Avatar

Twelve years ago, James Cameron's last film, Titanic, was released to little fanfare. You might not believe that and I shouldn't say little, as it debuted at number one, but it actually took weeks for the film to build into the "must-see" event of early 1998. Word of mouth and incredibly broad appeal kept it at the top of the charts for months. Women flocked to the love story and Leonardo DiCaprio's charm...men waited for a couple hours to see the gee-whiz special effects as the ship sinks (and maybe Kate Winslet's breasts).

I waited years before seeing it and was admittedly underwhelmed. It's a good movie, sure, but not one I'd have seen multiple times in the theatre. I guess I'm not a softy (not always, anyway) and if I wanted Cameron special effects brilliance, I'll revisit the Terminator films, Aliens...hell, even The Abyss.

I appreciate that Cameron took some time making his next film and that he chose to return to his sci-fi roots rather than make another flick sure to appease the masses. (As a coworker put it, "aren't you disturbed by the fact that the people in this movie are blue?") He claimed that, in part, he was waiting for special effects to get where he needed them...apparently Gollum in The Lord of the Rings was the tipping point.

So now we get Avatar, an epic that relies heavily on it's effects wrapped in an eco-friendly plot about the greed of man and the kill-first military mentality. Sam Worthington stars as Jake Sully, a crippled vet who arrives on the planet Pandora determined to matter again by fulfilling his brother's commitment to assist in a project to develop relationships with the native humanoids, the Na'vi.

The story works quickly as we get an overview of the situation. The Na'vi are sitting on top of a deep vein of an incredibly valuable mineral. The industrial machine, in conjunction with a gung-ho military, wants to plow right in (literally strip-mining and destroying the forests), but the scientists would like some time to attempt peaceful diplomacy with the indigenous. Jake's asked to slide his consciousness into a Na'vi body to assist, but he's also expected to provide intel for his Colonel.

The plot predictably follows Jake as he becomes embedded in the tribe (who refer to themselves as "The People") and finds it harder and harder to help those who wish to exploit them. He learns their ways, becomes enamored of their spirituality (very "earth mother") and even falls in love. Again, nothing new or unexpected here.

Where Avatar sells itself and leaves an impression is in it's beautifully rendered special effects work. I'd venture to say that some 85-90% of the film is digitally constructed. It's not flawless effects, but believable enough that you'll eventually fall into the mystique of a beautiful world filled with exotic fauna and creatures both deadly and exciting. I did not see the film in 3D, so I can't speak to those charms, though they were impressive in the preview I saw months ago. The Na'vi themselves are realized with grace and realism, capturing just enough of the look of the source actor and yet maintaining an alien quality (I love that Sigourney Weaver's avatar has her sleepy eyes).

Much like Titanic, the first couple hours of the movie are occasionally slow before the action really kicks in. The military forces on the planet eventually move to take the Na'vi land by force and the ensuing battle is truly masterful. It's grandiose and often breath-taking.

Avatar will not be the slow-burn success of Cameron's last film and it might even struggle to recoup it's production costs (rumored around $300 million), but it's a welcome addition to his resume and a film that should be experienced on the big screen (though I suspect it will be dazzling on Blu-ray, too).

Rating: B+

The Best Tracks of 2009

Long time friends and readers know that every year I put together a mix CD of my favorite tracks from that year. I typically give them out during the holidays, mailing several with Xmas cards to friends around the country.

I completed this year's mix last week, copies are currently burning for distribution at work, but you, dear MM fans, get a sneak peak at the playlist before copies make their way into the general populace. Without further ado...The Best of 2009.

1. The Fixer - Pearl Jam
2. Feel Good Drag - Anberlin
3. Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
4. The Fear - Lily Allen
5. My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson
6. Just Breathe - Pearl Jam
7. Two Weeks of Hip-Hop - Dead Prez vs. Grizzly Bear
8. Dance Anthem of the 80's - Regina Spektor
9. Ghost Town - Shiny Toy Guns
10. Dominos - The Big Pink
11. Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
12. Who'd Have Known - Lily Allen
13. Lost in You - Three Days Grace
14. Undisclosed Desires - Muse
15. It's Nice to Know You Work Alone - Silversun Pickups
16. Uprising - Muse
17. Sometime Around Midnight - The Airborne Toxic Event
18. 21 Guns - Green Day
19. Panic Switch - Silversun Pickups

If you got a copy and it's damaged, please let me know and I will replace it.

Movie Leftovers

I saw a few movies this summer and fall that I neglected to review. Shame on me, so here are some quick and dirty reviews to catch you up.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - B+

As a fan of the books, it's hard to get completely excited by the films anymore. Too much has been excised and streamlined to keep the films from running several hours long. From a Hollywood perspective it makes perfect sense and the films are well-produced and exciting. Half-Blood Prince is no exception...it's dark, brooding and perfectly sets the stage for the final installment(s) of the series. From a fan perspective, the best part of the book, an extensive backstory for villain Voldemort, is sadly missing.

Inglourious Basterds - B

Quentin Taratino's latest piece of violent fiction is still distinctly his, but the premise and setting, following a troop of cutthroat (scalp?) WWII assassins and various Nazis, is new and helps elevate the film above quirk. In the end, it's a piece of revisionist fantasy, but a funny one filled with several moments of Tarantino's typical talking head dialogue pieces. Brad Pitt turns in another bizarre performance but Christoph Waltz turns in the best performance as a slick Nazi colonel.

9 - B
Not to be confused with District 9, this computer animated flick about strange canvas-doll creatures trying to survive in a machine-controlled post-apocalypse (I like hyphens!) is exciting and looks great. The pacing is brisk but the story could have been fleshed out a bit.

Law Abiding Citizen - C+

It's interesting to see Gerard Butler as a villain and his one-up vengeance plots are exciting, if very graphic. There's nothing inherently bad about the film, it simply offers nothing new either.

TV: Fall 2009 Report Card

The fall season is underway and it's time to evaluate the new and returning shows to grace my TV and take up space on my DVR.

The Office - B

Not as funny as it used to be, but still filled with moments of absolute comedy. The wedding was as charming, awkward and fun as it should have been.


Fringe - A

I'm going to be super-pissed when this piece of brilliance is cancelled. Every episode has at least one moment that makes me freak out.


How I Met Your Mother - B

Alright, I'm ready to know who the mother is and I'm not sure how I feel about Barney/Robin, but apparently that's over now.


Dollhouse - B

Still a bit uneven, but the supporting cast is getting more interesting and the backstory is developing nicely. Word came out today that Fox is cancelling it...not sure if we'll see the rest on TV, but hopefully Whedon will get the chance to film some closure for the DVD.


Mad Men - A

It does deserve all the praise it gets...this season might be the best yet. All of Don's secrets and indiscretions exploded around him and the finale shook up the status quo in a very believable and exciting way.


30 Rock - B+

Quirky as ever, funnier than usual and Alec Baldwin gets more and more brilliant.


Star Wars: The Clone Wars - B

Action-packed, smartly animated and almost making me forgive Lucas for Attack of the Clones.


The Big Bang Theory - B+

I want to be a writer on this show...the nerd gags alone are worth it.



It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - B-

Depravity knows no bounds with this foursome...not always evenly funny, but some moments make me laugh my ass off. ("Kittens in Mittons" was a high point.)


FlashForward - A-

I have no idea where this show is going, but I'm enjoying the trip so far. The most recent episode might have changed the game and I hope that helps pick up the pacing a bit.



Glee - A+

My vote for best new series of the season. A high school series that doesn't try to tweak the stereotypes and familiar characters...it runs full-force with them in hilarious and brilliant ways. The gay kid, the cheerleader, the dumb jock...when they burst out in song it doesn't matter.



Modern Family - A

Sitcoms are finally making a comeback and this one is at the top of the list.



Cougar Town - C+

Started strong and I like Courtney Cox in this role, but the bawdy jokes are starting to get predictable.



Community - B

I was a little ambivalent to this show at first, but the Halloween episode was so damn good, I'm officially sold. I love that Chevy Chase doesn't steal the show, that Joel McHale is such a charming cad and Abed should be Batman in every episode.



Stargate Universe - B

I was never a huge fan of the first two Stargate series, mostly because I didn't see enough of them, but this show has a very different feel from what I saw. It's the Deep Space Nine/Battlestar Galactica of the mythos...a little darker, more character driven.



White Collar - B-

This show doesn't deliver anything new in crime "drama," but star Matthew Bomer (previously seen on Chuck) is fun to watch as a smooth con-man turned FBI consultant. USA's motto of "Characters Welcome" is not an exaggeration.



V - C

I know I'm supposed to be in love with this show based on my fond memories of the original but so far, I'm underwhelmed. The pilot condensed the original miniseries into one hour lacking almost any suspense (esp. if you saw any of the myriad trailers ABC ran). This week's second episode really did little to advance the story and it almost feels like the sci-fi element is pushed aside. Sure, we already know where some of this is going, but where are the exciting reveals, the action, the lizard people eating live animals? An alien race is hanging out all over the planet and we're focusing on an FBI agent, her horny son and an alien with an identity crisis? YAWN...


The League - C+

FX keeps pairing comedies with Philly that try to outdo it. Last year's Testees was a disturbing, unfunny mess. The League isn't as crude but still works hard to be very raunchy. I'm drawn by the premise revolving around a fantasy football league.


Heroes - F

I'm done...I made it through three or four episodes of this season and nothing is changing, nothing is interesting and I despise every single character. If you ever have the desire to watch this show, go rent or buy the first season and convince yourself that the show was cancelled immediately after...the lack of closure will be infinitely more satisfying than the subsequent seasons of directionless plotting.

Where the Wild Things Are

Fans of the classic Maurice Sendak picture book might have been a little put off at the notion of a live-action feature fleshing out a very short story into a parable of childhood angst and family decay. But I think the first trailer, which brought tears to many eyes, proved that director Spike Jonze and co-writer Dave Eggers not only gave reverence to the childhood memory Where the Wild Things Are evokes...they created something unique and immersive.

The actual film is just as mesmerizing, if not quite as emotionally charged. Young Max (Max Records) is a boy who is feeling isolated from his sister and mother and acts out before running away into the night in his wolfish costume. After sailing across rough waters to a far away island, he meets a group of large creatures who crown him their king and include him in their bizarre play and activities.

All is not smooth and perfect in Max's new world (which is never assumed to be real, but is also never pointedly imagined either). Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini) is gruff and occasionally violent, mostly due to the loss of KW (Lauren Ambrose) from their gang. She's found other friends that appeal to her independent sensibilities and Carol can't always cope. Max brings some sense of unity and sets everyone to building a massive fortress they can live in, but turmoil eventually causes more rifts. Max works very hard to keep his new family together, but in the end this unit is no less dysfunctional than what he's likely encountered in his childhood already.

Wild Things is the most symbolic and metaphoric "children's" film I've seen in some time, but it's also one of the most vivid and well-constructed, too. The wild things themselves are marvelous creations, just different enough to be fascinating but emotive enough to be relatable. It doesn't take long for the viewer to recognize a familiar archetype in each character or, perhaps, themselves.

What may linger the longest in my mind is the world Jonze creates...elaborate set pieces, frame filling landscapes and seamless special effects. It's a world that can shift as quickly as a child's imagination...one moment frolicking in the woods, the next tirelessly trudging an epic desert.

The film is quickly paced, appropriate to prevent the inherent messaging from becoming heavy-handed and Max's inevitable departure is not as stunningly sad as one might expect...only a touching reminder that home is where we make it and nowhere is perfect.

Rating: A

New Music

Apologies for taking so much time away...late summer/early fall has been busy for yours truly. Today, I'm going to run through some of the latest music releases that have been spinning in my car and will contribute to this year's "Best of" mix CD.

Backspacer - Pearl Jam - B+
Pearl Jam's last, self-titled album was heaped with praise for a band returning to form but I wasn't blown away by it. It was a step up from some of the dark, meandering entries of recent years, but still a far cry from early albums that made Eddie Vedder and company a staple of the 90s alternative scene. Backspacer seems to be a step in the right direction. Someone listening with me didn't actually recognize it as Pearl Jam due to the decidedly upbeat feeling of the new material. I suppose we're used to Vedder moaning and groaning his way through songs which makes tracks like single "The Fixer," opening with a "hey, hey, hey!" seem positively poppy. What actually draws me into the album is some of the softer tunes like "Just Breathe," possibly carryovers from Vedder's Into the Wild soundtrack.

Life Starts Now - Three Days Grace - A
On their third album, these hard rock heavy hitters craft a set of tunes very listenable from beginning to end. Lead singer Adam Guntier (last heard on Apocalyptica hit "I Don't Care") still flexes one of the best voices in rock these days. It's not all doom and gloom, though..."Lost in You" is practically a love song (only a few tracks after one about getting past the "Bitter Taste" of someone else) and "The Good Life" is a rollicking ode to getting the finer things.

Dear Agony - Breaking Benjamin - B-
I truly expected this to be one of my favorite albums of the year, after watching this band get better and better in their first three releases, but Agony has left me wanting. It's not bad, but I've yet to find a stand-out tune on par with "Diary of Jane," "Breath" or "So Cold." This one might end up growing on me, but Three Days Grace has overshadowed it so far.

Shaka Rock - Jet - B-
Jet makes party rock, plain and simple. I mean, the first song I heard from this album was at a strip club (she also danced to a new Muse song, so props to her tastes...among other things). Shaka Rock actually shows a lot more talent and diversity than one might expect, though...it's almost got a Brit rock feel to it.

Black Gives Way to Blue - Alice in Chains - C-
The new Alice in Chains doesn't necessarily suffer from the absence of Layne Staley...Jerry Cantrell sings many of the new tunes and new "lead" singer William Duvall isn't a stretch from Staley. Hell, Elton John even plays piano on a song. What does kill the album is monotony. Most songs sound utterly similar...grinding guitars, bleak lyrics...this isn't a bold new page for an absent band, just a collection of songs that could have been forgotten tracks on early albums.

The Resistance - Muse - A
Muse find their inner rock gods on their fifth studio release, as close to a modern day rock opera as most bands can get without being utterly ridiculous. The pomposity is occasionally much, especially on the closing three part "Exogenesis: Symphony," but the first half of the album is mostly brilliant, especially Queen-ish "United States of Eurasia" and sultry "Undisclosed Desires." Lead single "Uprising" is a fairly standard Muse cut, which is in no way an insult.

Humbug - Arctic Monkeys - B
I really didn't want to like the Arctic Monkeys when their debut album broke Oasis' sales record (in Britain at least), but by their second album, I found their heavily accented pop-rock infectious. Humbug is probably their most well-rounded set.

TV: Summer Review/Fall Preview

Ahh, September...summer comes to a close, the weather begins to cool and we look forward to all the glorious new and returning television ahead. Actually, the fall TV season is growing somewhat archaic in the days of DVR, On Demand, TV on DVD and internet outlets like Hulu. No one has to make appointments to watch TV. With a couple button presses or a little time on your computer, you can watch your favorite show or catch up on the buzzworthy programs you missed at any time you like.

Despite such leisure, there is still a strong desire to see the shows we love and those that everyone will be talking about before...well, everyone starts talking about them. Don't worry, the MightyMartian is here to tell you what you must watch, might want to watch and maybe a couple things to avoid. Well, at least I'll tell you what I'll be watching and not.

Let's start with a recap of summer series you might have missed.

Being Human (BBC America) - A-
I could see this show being remade in America soon, but the original will probably be better. The premise sounds quirky at first: a vampire, ghost and werewolf share a house while trying to blend in with society and deny their "problems." Mitchell, the vamp, is struggling to fight his impulses and stay away from the rest of his kind. George is ashamed of his hairy transformation and ghostly Annie is still pining for her ex-fiance. Lots of dramatic twists keep you guessing.

Leverage (TNT) - B
Fun, fast-paced caper series about con-men/women playing Robin Hood to help out the little guys. The cons have the occasional Ocean's 11 feel to them and the cast, anchored by Timothy Hutton, is incredibly likeable.

In Plain Sight (USA) - B
Mary McCormick is the biggest reason to watch this show about Witness Protection agents. Her supporting cast is the rest. The "witness-of-the-week" plots are a little dull sometimes, but still watchable.

Defying Gravity (ABC) - B-
A lushly produced astronaut soap opera that starts slow before wrapping you up in its characters. Bouncing back and forth between the character's lives before and during a big space mission, the drama won't really appeal to sci-fi fans despite the setting. I suspect there won't be enough interest to keep this one around, which is a shame because there is potential.

Warehouse 13 (SyFy) - C+
There is some charm to be found in the story of two Secret Service agents pulled into chasing down dangerous artifacts to be kept in a secret warehouse in South Dakota. The problem is that the plots and effects are often hokey and we've yet to build a sustained thematic element.

And now for fall's new and returning offerings. Keep in mind that some of the best shows on TV right now (Lost, Breaking Bad, 24) won't return until spring. Let's start with returning series.

Mad Men (AMC) - Premiered Aug. 16
Already back in sexy 60s style, Mad sizzles as much as ever. Don still can't grasp the concept of fidelity while trying to hold together his marriage with very pregnant Betty (who is *gasp* still smoking and drinking...it is the 60s). Sterling-Cooper's new British owners are stirring up trouble and office political intrigue and the show is tackling issues with aging parents and homosexuality. Still tersely written and beautifully detailed.

The Office (NBC) - Sept. 17
I confess, the series lost a little bit of its heart when Jim and Pam finally got together, but their relationship has progressed nicely (I won't reveal last season's finale shocker for those that are behind) and the will they/won't they is replaced by Michael and Holly now. There are still guaranteed laughs in every episode.

Fringe (Fox) - Sept. 17
I never should have doubted J.J. Abrams. I wasn't certain how I felt about this pseudo-X-Files thriller at first, but the latter half of the season found its own voice and chilling thematic elements. Fringe is Lost without duping viewers into following a sci-fi premise disguised as a drama. It's edgy concept storytelling that will occasionally leave you staring at your TV in awe and I can't wait to see where it goes next. I fear a move to Thursday (up against Grey's, CSI and NBC comedies) could hurt.

Heroes (NBC) - Sept. 21
Oh, Heroes...in your first season, you were quite possibly the most innovative, well-constructed comic book story ever conceived. You juggled a great cast of characters, a strong storyline and several intriguing sub-plots. In two seasons since everything has gone to shit...and that's the kindest way to put it. I'm strongly debating tuning in for the next season (with such attention grabbing early plot leaks as Claire kissing her lesbian roommate). You'll have a short leash on my always rapidly filling DVR. Use your time there wisely.

How I Met Your Mother/Big Bang Theory (CBS) -
The best comedies on TV will now bookend CBS' Monday lineup (oddly Mother ends up in the earlier slot) and I'm so glad I finally keyed in on Big Bang's immense pool of laughs. Sheldon might be one of the greatest oddball characters ever conceived.

Southland (NBC) - Oct. 23
In the wake of gritty cop dramas like Homicide, The Wire and The Shield, it's hard to tell if this one will live up to the legacy, but the first season finished strong.

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (NBC)
I was a little concerned Conan would lose some of his edgy humor moving to an earlier slot, but he hasn't. Letterman may still have the overall ratings, but Conan has to be winning younger viewers.

Dollhouse (Fox) - Sept. 25
I admit, I'm amazed this was renewed. Not always up to Joss Whedon's brilliant standards (admittedly, that can't be easy to accomplish), but the latter half of the debut season got much better and there are some great ideas to build upon.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Cartoon Network) - Oct. 2
Quite possibly the biggest surprise of the previous season, the Star Wars universe is exciting again, even though we know what happens down the road, there are plenty of characters and plotlines here that will be fun to follow.

Now on to the new series debuting this fall.

V (ABC) - Nov. 3
The original V miniseries in the 80s were probably the must-see TV events of my youth. Epic alien invasion drama played out over a couple weeks with WWII allegory and lizard people pretending to be human? Sign. me. up. The remake promises to stick with the winning formula, updating the premise to our post-9/11 world and certainly kicking the special effects and production values up a few notches.

Flash-Forward (ABC) - Sept. 24
Attempting to fill the void that Lost will inevitably leave after its final season, this new drama also has a great mind-bending concept. On a random morning, the entire world blacks out for over two minutes and many see visions of a future in six months. The blackout causes worldwide destruction and carnage along with the trauma of futures terrifying and exciting to those who saw it. This will be the water-cooler series of the season.

Glee (Fox) - Sept. 9
The pilot, previewed in late spring, was incredibly fun and outlandish...High School Musical as semi-dark comedy. Centered around an unwanted glee club with varied members in it for varied reasons...the casting is excellent and the pilot's featured songs were toe-tapping (okay, I sang along, too).

Eastwick (ABC) - Sept. 23
Another attempt at a series based on The Witches of Eastwick? I was ready to ignore this one, but Paul Gross (of DueSouth) involvement guarantees I'll watch at least a couple episodes.

Community (NBC) - Sept. 17
Chevy Chase isn't really the draw on this new comedy set at a community college, it's Joel McHale. It's got to be better than the uneven Parks and Recreation.

Vampire Diaries (CW) - Sept. 10
Is it too much to hope that this is a new Buffy/Angel? Yes, but I'll give it a shot, hoping that it's more True Blood than Twilight.

What I won't be watching:

The Jay Leno Show (NBC)
Really, NBC? You've given up on producing new dramas for the ten o'clock hour entirely? So you're giving it over to Leno every night of the week? Good luck with that...

Melrose Place (CW)
Okay, I admit, I may actually check this out...the same way I did the first ep of 90210. I mean, I grew up with this stuff...I was a horny teenager when Heather Locklear was running around in micro-skirts and Laura Leighton (returning for this update) was sleeping with everyone. But taking my hormones out of the equation, I know it was a lot of sudsy flash.

NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)
Nope...I don't do shows with acronyms or dozens of spin-offs. It just seems lazy... (V doesn't count.)

Mercy (NBC)
Medical dramas are temporarily done and this one looks so melodramatic...

Brothers (Fox)
This looks like the most generic comedy ever conceived...and then they asked Michael Strahan to star.

Three Rivers (CBS)
See Mercy above...

Whew...that was long. Choose your TV viewing wisely, my friends. Your DVR can only hold so much (esp. if you record in HD).