-- Another honorable mention in my TV blog should have been Luther, the superb BBC miniseries starring The Wire's Idris Elba in the title role of an emotionally overwrought detective who gets a little too attached to his cases. Elba's performance elevates the series above the typical police procedural.
-- Shame on SyFy for cancelling Stargate Universe, easily its only solid series (apologies to Warehouse 13, which is fun but a little silly at times). Caprica was a droll waste, but SGU was the worthy successor to Battlestar Galactica's dark, character driven storytelling. It sounds like the producers might get a chance to properly close out the second season, but this show was getting better with every episode.
-- Alert to Samsung HDTV owners. After owning mine for a little over two years, the capacitors burned out causing a power cycle issue that took anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes to turn on the TV. After doing some research, I found out it's a very common issue. Despite being past warranty, Samsung at least allowed a local technician to repair it free of charge, but I've heard the problem can resurface. I'm not sure if newer TVs are being built without these cheaper caps, but buyer beware.
-- V returns to ABC next week. I'm willing to give the new season a couple episodes, but the first was so stunningly bad that it will need to impress in a hurry to keep a place on my DVR.
-- Also returning is the criminally underappreciated Southland to TNT. It's a cop show in the vein of NYPD Blue or Homicide.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Best of 2010: Television
Going to the movies today is no longer cheap and, let's be honest, given the cost, your odds of getting quality entertainment for the time and money are not in your favor. Television, however, is still relatively inexpensive (and the major networks are still technically free) and produces entertainment that lasts longer than a couple hours. It allows for intricate plotting and character growth and you don't have to wait two or three years to continue the story (although AMC shows make it feel that long between seasons).
It's a sad fact that when I started jotting down lists of film, music and TV for these best of compilations, coming up with ten-plus TV shows was easy. I have yet to find ten movies that I feel are worthy of a Top 10 list, though. Not only did I see fewer films in the theatre, I also didn't feel any real desire to see many.
10. Parenthood - NBC
From the producers of Friday Night Lights (that'll show up later on this list) is another well-written, very well-cast series that relies strongly on its characters. Following various members of a large family, there isn't a wasted character among them and the acting is superb.
9. Terriers - FX
Add this one to the list of great, cancelled series. The occasionally comical tale of two private detectives who get in over their heads started slow but eventually ramped up into a densely plotted crime drama that fans of The Shield would appreciate. Given the slow-burn of that series to creative peaks, I'm surprised this one wasn't nurtured longer.
8. Glee - Fox
The first season was a bubble-bursting delight of music, comedy and stylish storytelling. Season two has been a bit uneven, but still capable of making me smile, dance and burst into song (much like its characters) at any point. Recent highlights like the all-male "Teenage Dream" and Gwyneth Paltrow's turn as a substitute (please bring her back!) have ensured this show will always be on my must-see list.
7. The Walking Dead - AMC
The pilot alone would have put this show near the top of the list...a grim tale with the perfect tone about humans in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. The subsequent episodes of the short first season weren't nearly as masterful, but there is still so much promise in this series, especially if they expand upon more of the brilliant comic book material.
6. Modern Family - ABC
The only sitcom to make this list is here for a reason...it's incredibly funny and that cast is so spot on from top to bottom. The Emmy was well-deserved and it hasn't lost a beat in its second season.
5. Mad Men - AMC
I've commented in the past that this show, while amazing, hasn't deserved the Best Drama Emmy for three straight years. The recent 4th season, however, was probably the best of the series so far. Focused on the deconstruction and resurrection of central character Don Draper, every episode wove new depths of character and drama. Don's probably the best "anti-hero" since Vic Mackey...a man who we are meant to admire and despise in the same moment.
4. Friday Night Lights - DirecTV/NBC
There is so much that is so impossibly perfect about this series. Every time a key character leaves the show I assume it will never be the same, but new characters become just as important, memorable and fascinating. At heart, it comes down to the core duo of Coach Taylor and his wife (Kyle Chandler/Connie Britton), the best couple on television. No spoilers on the final season, please...I'll have to wait until NBC graces us with its re-airing next year.
3. Lost - "The End" - ABC
The final season of Lost was a mixed bag...the flash-sideways world was confusing and occasionally unnecessary and we still have so many questions that will never be answered. But damn...could you ask for a finer final episode? I know opinions on that are mixed as well, but for this fan, who religously followed the series from the beginning, it was a resolution filled with emotional payoff and delirious moments of satisfaction.
2. Fringe - Fox
I keep talking about how I'm surprised this show is still airing and Fox's recent announcement to move the series to Fridays (a.k.a. where smart sci-fi goes to die) has only filled me with more dread...but I should really call attention to the fact that this show gets smarter and cooler every season. This season's alternate-reality plot has been tense and the former "creepy of the week" aspect has evolved into a carefully constructed world where "fringe" science is closer than we think.
1. Breaking Bad - AMC
AMC deserves some kind of special award for producing innovative, bold television in the "basic cable" realm...the kind of series that are typically expected from HBO or Showtime. Breaking Bad is probably the pinnacle of the new dramatic class...edgy, always unexpected and darkly funny. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul desevered their Emmys this year and waiting for a new season (probably next summer) is agonizing.
Honorable Mentions: Men of a Certain Age, The Big Bang Theory, Community, Stargate Universe, Justified
It's a sad fact that when I started jotting down lists of film, music and TV for these best of compilations, coming up with ten-plus TV shows was easy. I have yet to find ten movies that I feel are worthy of a Top 10 list, though. Not only did I see fewer films in the theatre, I also didn't feel any real desire to see many.
10. Parenthood - NBC
From the producers of Friday Night Lights (that'll show up later on this list) is another well-written, very well-cast series that relies strongly on its characters. Following various members of a large family, there isn't a wasted character among them and the acting is superb.
9. Terriers - FX
Add this one to the list of great, cancelled series. The occasionally comical tale of two private detectives who get in over their heads started slow but eventually ramped up into a densely plotted crime drama that fans of The Shield would appreciate. Given the slow-burn of that series to creative peaks, I'm surprised this one wasn't nurtured longer.
8. Glee - Fox
The first season was a bubble-bursting delight of music, comedy and stylish storytelling. Season two has been a bit uneven, but still capable of making me smile, dance and burst into song (much like its characters) at any point. Recent highlights like the all-male "Teenage Dream" and Gwyneth Paltrow's turn as a substitute (please bring her back!) have ensured this show will always be on my must-see list.
7. The Walking Dead - AMC
The pilot alone would have put this show near the top of the list...a grim tale with the perfect tone about humans in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. The subsequent episodes of the short first season weren't nearly as masterful, but there is still so much promise in this series, especially if they expand upon more of the brilliant comic book material.
6. Modern Family - ABC
The only sitcom to make this list is here for a reason...it's incredibly funny and that cast is so spot on from top to bottom. The Emmy was well-deserved and it hasn't lost a beat in its second season.
5. Mad Men - AMC
I've commented in the past that this show, while amazing, hasn't deserved the Best Drama Emmy for three straight years. The recent 4th season, however, was probably the best of the series so far. Focused on the deconstruction and resurrection of central character Don Draper, every episode wove new depths of character and drama. Don's probably the best "anti-hero" since Vic Mackey...a man who we are meant to admire and despise in the same moment.
4. Friday Night Lights - DirecTV/NBC
There is so much that is so impossibly perfect about this series. Every time a key character leaves the show I assume it will never be the same, but new characters become just as important, memorable and fascinating. At heart, it comes down to the core duo of Coach Taylor and his wife (Kyle Chandler/Connie Britton), the best couple on television. No spoilers on the final season, please...I'll have to wait until NBC graces us with its re-airing next year.
3. Lost - "The End" - ABC
The final season of Lost was a mixed bag...the flash-sideways world was confusing and occasionally unnecessary and we still have so many questions that will never be answered. But damn...could you ask for a finer final episode? I know opinions on that are mixed as well, but for this fan, who religously followed the series from the beginning, it was a resolution filled with emotional payoff and delirious moments of satisfaction.
2. Fringe - Fox
I keep talking about how I'm surprised this show is still airing and Fox's recent announcement to move the series to Fridays (a.k.a. where smart sci-fi goes to die) has only filled me with more dread...but I should really call attention to the fact that this show gets smarter and cooler every season. This season's alternate-reality plot has been tense and the former "creepy of the week" aspect has evolved into a carefully constructed world where "fringe" science is closer than we think.
1. Breaking Bad - AMC
AMC deserves some kind of special award for producing innovative, bold television in the "basic cable" realm...the kind of series that are typically expected from HBO or Showtime. Breaking Bad is probably the pinnacle of the new dramatic class...edgy, always unexpected and darkly funny. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul desevered their Emmys this year and waiting for a new season (probably next summer) is agonizing.
Honorable Mentions: Men of a Certain Age, The Big Bang Theory, Community, Stargate Universe, Justified
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The Best of 2010: Tracks
Last weekend I finally finished my annual "Best of" mix CD and have been rapidly burning copies ever since. This year's selection took nearly two months to put together but I'm pretty proud of it. It's very diverse and has a little something for everyone. Copies went out to the public today.
Rather than simply post the list this year, I opted to make it heard as well. I couldn't find every song on playlist.com, so the full list is below the player.
The Best of 2010
Infinity Guitars – Sleigh Bells
Airplanes – B.O.B. feat. Hayley Williams
Paris – Kate Nash
Howlin’ for You – The Black Keys
The Ghost Inside – Broken Bells
Die by the Drop – The Dead Weather
Animal – Neon Trees
Tighten Up – The Black Keys
Not Strong Enough – Apocalyptica
Bright Lights Bigger City – Cee-Lo Green
Coffee and Cigarettes (Acoustic Version) – Jimmy Eat World
Rill Rill – Sleigh Bells
Dog Days Are Over – Florence & the Machine
Love the Way You Lie – Eminem feat. Rihanna
Speechless – Lady Gaga
Nothin’ on You – B.O.B. feat. Bruno Mars
Out of the Blue – Julian Casablancas
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
Airplanes, Pt. 2 – B.O.B. feat. Hayley Williams & Eminem
Crying Time – The Gracious Few
Rather than simply post the list this year, I opted to make it heard as well. I couldn't find every song on playlist.com, so the full list is below the player.
The Best of 2010
Infinity Guitars – Sleigh Bells
Airplanes – B.O.B. feat. Hayley Williams
Paris – Kate Nash
Howlin’ for You – The Black Keys
The Ghost Inside – Broken Bells
Die by the Drop – The Dead Weather
Animal – Neon Trees
Tighten Up – The Black Keys
Not Strong Enough – Apocalyptica
Bright Lights Bigger City – Cee-Lo Green
Coffee and Cigarettes (Acoustic Version) – Jimmy Eat World
Rill Rill – Sleigh Bells
Dog Days Are Over – Florence & the Machine
Love the Way You Lie – Eminem feat. Rihanna
Speechless – Lady Gaga
Nothin’ on You – B.O.B. feat. Bruno Mars
Out of the Blue – Julian Casablancas
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
Airplanes, Pt. 2 – B.O.B. feat. Hayley Williams & Eminem
Crying Time – The Gracious Few
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II - PS3
Two years ago, LucasArts released probably the best Star Wars video game to date, a tale taking place shortly before A New Hope following Vader's secret apprentice, Starkiller, as he resists his master and helps the early days of the Rebellion. As a story, it was an exciting piece of the extended universe filled with familiar characters and fascinating new ones. As a game, it wasn't terribly original (essentially the God of War engine with lightsabers and Stormtroopers), but the thrill of playing a powerful Jedi who was vaguely neutral in the Dark/Light discussion was irresistible. Force lightning, choking enemies, lightsaber duels...it was a fanboy dream come true.
The annoucement of a sequel this year was met with eager anticipation...Starkiller (spoiler alert) seemingly died at the end of the original game, so how was he back and where would the story go from here?
Force Unleashed II picks up probably a year or two after the first. It's quickly revealed that our new "hero" is a clone of the original Starkiller...one of several Vader has attempted to perfect. He can't seem to get them to shake their memories and desire to reunite with lady love Juno. This latest clone is no different and quickly escapes Vader's facility. The ensuing game is little more than a hack/slash actioner, following Starkiller as he tears through hordes of stormtroopers and various robots. I'd venture to say there are no more 15 unique enemies and the methods to kill them are easy to figure out. The original game wasn't overly complicated in action, either, but it also never felt this monotonous.
What disappointed me most was the story...I felt very little concern about what was happening, there was minimal character development and only Vader's role seems to really connect it to the Star Wars universe in general. The ending leaves things wide open for the inevitable third entry.
I finished FU II (that seems oddly appropriate) on Medium difficulty in six days, only playing for an hour or two each day. I rarely felt challenged and wasn't upset to stop playing for sleep or other activities. Replay value would seem to be minimal. I can't even say that the game looked or played better than the first. It was glitchy at times and the cut scenes weren't as well animated.
I only recommend this one as a rental or deep discount purchase. I doubt I'll rush out for part III either.
Rating: C-
The annoucement of a sequel this year was met with eager anticipation...Starkiller (spoiler alert) seemingly died at the end of the original game, so how was he back and where would the story go from here?
Force Unleashed II picks up probably a year or two after the first. It's quickly revealed that our new "hero" is a clone of the original Starkiller...one of several Vader has attempted to perfect. He can't seem to get them to shake their memories and desire to reunite with lady love Juno. This latest clone is no different and quickly escapes Vader's facility. The ensuing game is little more than a hack/slash actioner, following Starkiller as he tears through hordes of stormtroopers and various robots. I'd venture to say there are no more 15 unique enemies and the methods to kill them are easy to figure out. The original game wasn't overly complicated in action, either, but it also never felt this monotonous.
What disappointed me most was the story...I felt very little concern about what was happening, there was minimal character development and only Vader's role seems to really connect it to the Star Wars universe in general. The ending leaves things wide open for the inevitable third entry.
I finished FU II (that seems oddly appropriate) on Medium difficulty in six days, only playing for an hour or two each day. I rarely felt challenged and wasn't upset to stop playing for sleep or other activities. Replay value would seem to be minimal. I can't even say that the game looked or played better than the first. It was glitchy at times and the cut scenes weren't as well animated.
I only recommend this one as a rental or deep discount purchase. I doubt I'll rush out for part III either.
Rating: C-
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Fall TV Preview
Hi, I'm back...I'm way behind on reviews for movies (Inception, Scott Pilgrim), music (Sleigh Bells, Black Keys) and TV (Torchwood, a Star Trek retrospective), but I'm getting back into the swing of things with a more urgent topic...giving you ideas of what to watch this fall by telling you what I'll be watching. Let's get right to it on a night by night breakdown.
Monday
How I Met Your Mother - CBS - Lost a little of it's pizazz last year, but still a great ensemble with routinely hilarious gags that reward long-time viewers. But do me a favor...tell us who the mother is this year...I'm beyond caring about the mystery anymore.
Chuck - NBC - This show isn't always terribly fresh or unpredictable, but the cheeky geek factor and sexy Yvonne Strahovski keep me coming back. Guest stints by the likes of Brandon Routh, Scott Bakula and (this season) Linda Hamilton help, too.
Lone Star - Fox - I'm a sucker for smart new dramas and this one has all the buzz. All I know is it's a tale of a con man living two lives and Adrianne Palicki (Tyra from Friday Night Lights) is in it.
The Event - NBC - This preview is not The Event. I have no idea what is, but this show looks like it could be the next Lost...or the next FlashForward. Get excited accordingly.
Hawaii Five-O - CBS - This might totally be another formulaic crime drama (a la CSI, NCIS), but its looks fun and Scott Caan is inspired casting as Danno.
Tuesday
Glee - Fox - I don't care who you are or what you think this show is...watch an episode (preferably the Madonna ep or the one with the bed commercial featuring "Jump") and tell me you weren't singing/dancing and smiling ear to ear. I'll be burning you a copy of the soundtracks.
No Ordinary Family - ABC - Michael Chiklis follows The Shield with...a comic book family drama? Hmm...not sold on this one. I'm afraid of Heroes (post Season 1) crossed with an early 90s TGIF comedy.
Raising Hope - Fox - Fox comedies that aren't animated typically suck (calling it as I see them), but the ads for this are just funny.
Parenthood - Love, love, loved the first season of this show. Great cast, great writing and not too schmaltzy.
Detroit 1-8-7 - ABC - Wait, am I really going to watch this? Sometimes I throw a show or two on the DVR to see where it goes.
Warehouse 13 - SyFy - I expected this (like 90% of SyFy programming) to be cheeseball...it's goofy, but fun, with great literary and historical references given a genre spin.
Wednesday
Undercovers - NBC - Because it's a new show with J.J. Abrams attached. You don't need another reason to at least give it a shot.
Modern Family - ABC - It won so many Emmys for a reason.
Terriers - FX - I haven't watched this yet, but I trust FX...see: The Shield, Justified (which is only left off this list because I don't know when it's coming back).
Thursday (busiest night on TV)
The Big Bang Theory - CBS - New night, same nerd-a-rific hilarity.
S#*! My Dad Says - CBS - Early reviews are pretty low on this, but it's Shatner, so I have to watch.
Community - NBC - Criminally unappreciated comedy. Watch either the paintball or chicken finger eps and tell me you aren't sold.
30 Rock - NBC - I'm not as high on this show as everyone else, but Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin will keep me watching every week.
Fringe - Fox - The best show no one I personally know is watching. How this is still on the air (on Fox!) is a mystery, but damn if it isn't riveting, super smart sci-fi. I'm done making X-Files comparisons...this show doesn't bog down it's mythology, but leaps right into it, now wrapped up in an alternate universe that's trying to take our world. Oh, and lest you forget, J.J. Abrams is behind it, too.
The Office - NBC - I suspect that the wilting, but still fun, Office will pull out some great, awkward moments for Steve Carrell's final season, but is there really a point in going on after that?
Outsourced - NBC - I suspect this will be more "Kath & Kim" than "The Office" but I'll give it a try.
Nikita - The CW - Haven't peeped the pilot yet, but I've always liked the idea behind Nikita.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - FX - Take the often unsympathetic characters of Seinfeld, make them completely unlikeable, stir in a lot of depraved comedy and Danny DeVito on an edgy cable network and you get a sitcom that pushes envelopes every week with sickening glee.
The League - FX - I admit, I love this show mostly because it's about a bunch of guys playing Fantasy Football. It does fit nicely with Philly though.
Friday (yes, I have a social life, this is what DVRs are for)
Human Target - Fox - Surprisingly exciting actioner that depends on its winning cast and well-paced scripting.
Blue Bloods - CBS - Tom Selleck stars in it, so that makes it worth a viewing, right?
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Cartoon Network - Star Wars fans...this honestly is a great show and you're depriving yourself if you don't check it out. Despite eventually heading in a direction we all know (Episode III), there are a lot of surprises and unexpected pleasures. The animation is great and it actually plays out like a episodic war story.
Friday Night Lights - DirecTV/NBC - If you're a DirecTV subscriber...congrats, you get to watch the final season first...no spoilers, please. I have to wait until January to see one another of my favorite shows sign off.
Stargate Universe - SyFy - Been aching for some dark sci-fi to fill the Battlestar Galactica void? Would you believe a series called Stargate could do it? I wouldn't have either, but the only thing this show has in common with the film and two other series of the same name are the gates themselves, bits of the mythology and occasional guest spots by SG-1 cast members.
Caprica - SyFy - Speaking of BSG, the prequel series doesn't carry the gravity or humanity, but it's an intriguing look at the technological vanity that led to the fall of the Twelve Colonies.
Saturday
Get out of the house! Go see a movie or a baseball game...have a date night...or watch earlier seasons of one of these shows on DVD.
Sunday
The Cleveland Show - Fox - Not as funny as Family Guy, but still good for a few hearty chuckles every episode.
Family Guy - Fox - Love it or hate it, it makes The Simpsons look like The Flintstones and often out-edges South Park. I can't wait for the Return of the Jedi homage, "It's a Trap!"
Mad Men - AMC - Though Breaking Bad (which should return in spring) is better, Mad Men deserves the praise and this season is already amazing on every level. AMC is making a case for brilliant drama and this one will by followed in October by...
The Walking Dead - AMC - Debuting on Halloween, don't let yourself be turned off by the zombie premise. Yes, it's the catalyst for the story, but if they stay close to the comic, this quickly becomes a very character-driven piece. What happens to regular men and women when the entire world goes to hell...when the horrors of humanity are even scarier than the undead?
So there you go...set your DVRs or plan your evenings...and don't call me during Fringe.
Monday
How I Met Your Mother - CBS - Lost a little of it's pizazz last year, but still a great ensemble with routinely hilarious gags that reward long-time viewers. But do me a favor...tell us who the mother is this year...I'm beyond caring about the mystery anymore.
Chuck - NBC - This show isn't always terribly fresh or unpredictable, but the cheeky geek factor and sexy Yvonne Strahovski keep me coming back. Guest stints by the likes of Brandon Routh, Scott Bakula and (this season) Linda Hamilton help, too.
Lone Star - Fox - I'm a sucker for smart new dramas and this one has all the buzz. All I know is it's a tale of a con man living two lives and Adrianne Palicki (Tyra from Friday Night Lights) is in it.
The Event - NBC - This preview is not The Event. I have no idea what is, but this show looks like it could be the next Lost...or the next FlashForward. Get excited accordingly.
Hawaii Five-O - CBS - This might totally be another formulaic crime drama (a la CSI, NCIS), but its looks fun and Scott Caan is inspired casting as Danno.
Tuesday
Glee - Fox - I don't care who you are or what you think this show is...watch an episode (preferably the Madonna ep or the one with the bed commercial featuring "Jump") and tell me you weren't singing/dancing and smiling ear to ear. I'll be burning you a copy of the soundtracks.
No Ordinary Family - ABC - Michael Chiklis follows The Shield with...a comic book family drama? Hmm...not sold on this one. I'm afraid of Heroes (post Season 1) crossed with an early 90s TGIF comedy.
Raising Hope - Fox - Fox comedies that aren't animated typically suck (calling it as I see them), but the ads for this are just funny.
Parenthood - Love, love, loved the first season of this show. Great cast, great writing and not too schmaltzy.
Detroit 1-8-7 - ABC - Wait, am I really going to watch this? Sometimes I throw a show or two on the DVR to see where it goes.
Warehouse 13 - SyFy - I expected this (like 90% of SyFy programming) to be cheeseball...it's goofy, but fun, with great literary and historical references given a genre spin.
Wednesday
Undercovers - NBC - Because it's a new show with J.J. Abrams attached. You don't need another reason to at least give it a shot.
Modern Family - ABC - It won so many Emmys for a reason.
Terriers - FX - I haven't watched this yet, but I trust FX...see: The Shield, Justified (which is only left off this list because I don't know when it's coming back).
Thursday (busiest night on TV)
The Big Bang Theory - CBS - New night, same nerd-a-rific hilarity.
S#*! My Dad Says - CBS - Early reviews are pretty low on this, but it's Shatner, so I have to watch.
Community - NBC - Criminally unappreciated comedy. Watch either the paintball or chicken finger eps and tell me you aren't sold.
30 Rock - NBC - I'm not as high on this show as everyone else, but Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin will keep me watching every week.
Fringe - Fox - The best show no one I personally know is watching. How this is still on the air (on Fox!) is a mystery, but damn if it isn't riveting, super smart sci-fi. I'm done making X-Files comparisons...this show doesn't bog down it's mythology, but leaps right into it, now wrapped up in an alternate universe that's trying to take our world. Oh, and lest you forget, J.J. Abrams is behind it, too.
The Office - NBC - I suspect that the wilting, but still fun, Office will pull out some great, awkward moments for Steve Carrell's final season, but is there really a point in going on after that?
Outsourced - NBC - I suspect this will be more "Kath & Kim" than "The Office" but I'll give it a try.
Nikita - The CW - Haven't peeped the pilot yet, but I've always liked the idea behind Nikita.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - FX - Take the often unsympathetic characters of Seinfeld, make them completely unlikeable, stir in a lot of depraved comedy and Danny DeVito on an edgy cable network and you get a sitcom that pushes envelopes every week with sickening glee.
The League - FX - I admit, I love this show mostly because it's about a bunch of guys playing Fantasy Football. It does fit nicely with Philly though.
Friday (yes, I have a social life, this is what DVRs are for)
Human Target - Fox - Surprisingly exciting actioner that depends on its winning cast and well-paced scripting.
Blue Bloods - CBS - Tom Selleck stars in it, so that makes it worth a viewing, right?
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Cartoon Network - Star Wars fans...this honestly is a great show and you're depriving yourself if you don't check it out. Despite eventually heading in a direction we all know (Episode III), there are a lot of surprises and unexpected pleasures. The animation is great and it actually plays out like a episodic war story.
Friday Night Lights - DirecTV/NBC - If you're a DirecTV subscriber...congrats, you get to watch the final season first...no spoilers, please. I have to wait until January to see one another of my favorite shows sign off.
Stargate Universe - SyFy - Been aching for some dark sci-fi to fill the Battlestar Galactica void? Would you believe a series called Stargate could do it? I wouldn't have either, but the only thing this show has in common with the film and two other series of the same name are the gates themselves, bits of the mythology and occasional guest spots by SG-1 cast members.
Caprica - SyFy - Speaking of BSG, the prequel series doesn't carry the gravity or humanity, but it's an intriguing look at the technological vanity that led to the fall of the Twelve Colonies.
Saturday
Get out of the house! Go see a movie or a baseball game...have a date night...or watch earlier seasons of one of these shows on DVD.
Sunday
The Cleveland Show - Fox - Not as funny as Family Guy, but still good for a few hearty chuckles every episode.
Family Guy - Fox - Love it or hate it, it makes The Simpsons look like The Flintstones and often out-edges South Park. I can't wait for the Return of the Jedi homage, "It's a Trap!"
Mad Men - AMC - Though Breaking Bad (which should return in spring) is better, Mad Men deserves the praise and this season is already amazing on every level. AMC is making a case for brilliant drama and this one will by followed in October by...
The Walking Dead - AMC - Debuting on Halloween, don't let yourself be turned off by the zombie premise. Yes, it's the catalyst for the story, but if they stay close to the comic, this quickly becomes a very character-driven piece. What happens to regular men and women when the entire world goes to hell...when the horrors of humanity are even scarier than the undead?
So there you go...set your DVRs or plan your evenings...and don't call me during Fringe.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Predators
As the saying goes, "everything old is new again." It seems every other film to be unleashed from the Hollywood machine is a remake (or "re-imagining" as producers like to call them) of a classic (?) movie or television show. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, but whenever a studio is in need of a hit, it's quite easy to look to what worked before.
It came as little surprise that a new film in the Predator franchise was commissioned. The original 1987 flick starring Arnold Schwarzenegger is a cult action classic...a jungle war movie turned sci-fi creature fest. There was a forgettable sequel and two mildly tolerable mergings with the Alien franchise (how long until we get a new one of those, too?) that has kept the deadly hunters on the silver screen, but the concept had worn thin.
Producer Robert Rodriguez apparently felt by adding an "s" to the flick, he could capture the same brand of magic James Cameron did with Aliens. I'm hesitant to compare this movie in total with what may be the best sci-fi actioner of all time, but the extra consonant isn't all that Rodriguez and director Nimrod Antal lifted. Predators is filled with believable characters, smart action pieces and avoids as many cliches as possible en route to delivering a movie that's actually a worthy sequel.
Unlike the original, the action gets underway pretty quickly in this film. We're thrown into the story with a free-falling Adrien Brody moments before a chute opens and he's deposited in a jungle. Brody quickly finds other souls plummeted into the same situation; all well-trained military, criminals and mercenaries. They have weapons and they're ready for action.
Of course, we the audience know they're here to be hunted by the Predators and they quickly and violently discover that as well. Naturally, everyone gets picked off one by one and their hunters are eventually revealed. The odds of survival would seem slim.
I don't suppose the plot is particularly challenging, but it doesn't need to be. Brody, not known for such roles, lends some gravity to the cast (a fun cameo from Laurence Fishburne doesn't hurt either). No one overacts and sharp directing keeps everything in the realm of believability. Who lives and who dies isn't necessarily shocking, but I enjoyed the hunter/prey games and some of the showdowns are on par with Arnold's faceoff with the original Predator. I was also quite pleased to hear many of the original music cues throughout.
You could do a whole lot worse for genre action. Maybe there's something to pluralizing films.
Rating: B
It came as little surprise that a new film in the Predator franchise was commissioned. The original 1987 flick starring Arnold Schwarzenegger is a cult action classic...a jungle war movie turned sci-fi creature fest. There was a forgettable sequel and two mildly tolerable mergings with the Alien franchise (how long until we get a new one of those, too?) that has kept the deadly hunters on the silver screen, but the concept had worn thin.
Producer Robert Rodriguez apparently felt by adding an "s" to the flick, he could capture the same brand of magic James Cameron did with Aliens. I'm hesitant to compare this movie in total with what may be the best sci-fi actioner of all time, but the extra consonant isn't all that Rodriguez and director Nimrod Antal lifted. Predators is filled with believable characters, smart action pieces and avoids as many cliches as possible en route to delivering a movie that's actually a worthy sequel.
Unlike the original, the action gets underway pretty quickly in this film. We're thrown into the story with a free-falling Adrien Brody moments before a chute opens and he's deposited in a jungle. Brody quickly finds other souls plummeted into the same situation; all well-trained military, criminals and mercenaries. They have weapons and they're ready for action.
Of course, we the audience know they're here to be hunted by the Predators and they quickly and violently discover that as well. Naturally, everyone gets picked off one by one and their hunters are eventually revealed. The odds of survival would seem slim.
I don't suppose the plot is particularly challenging, but it doesn't need to be. Brody, not known for such roles, lends some gravity to the cast (a fun cameo from Laurence Fishburne doesn't hurt either). No one overacts and sharp directing keeps everything in the realm of believability. Who lives and who dies isn't necessarily shocking, but I enjoyed the hunter/prey games and some of the showdowns are on par with Arnold's faceoff with the original Predator. I was also quite pleased to hear many of the original music cues throughout.
You could do a whole lot worse for genre action. Maybe there's something to pluralizing films.
Rating: B
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The Last Airbender
If you're like me and have followed the career and films of M. Night Shyamalan since the beginning, you might feel a little like you've been in a trying relationship that makes you wonder how many times you can foolishly keep coming back. Personally, I may have found the final reason to break it off forever...only to indulge on a late night if I'm properly intoxicated and desperate.
Everyone knows how it began...The Sixth Sense was a smart, suspenseful film and even though I figured out the "don't tell" twist ten minutes in, I was pleased with how deftly the whole premise was executed. Shyamalan's next film, Unbreakable, was an underappreciated spin on comic book origins. The ending was a bit tacked on, but it didn't hurt the movie. With Signs I was officially hooked. I loved the idea of an alien invasion plot that didn't bother with the worldview...only how it would affect your average citizen. I was genuinely creeped out at several moments...a feat few films elicit for me.
At the peak of this "romance," I fully anticipated each time I got to see this director's name on screen. The Village still kept the mood, but the plot felt a little weak...the "twist" this time wasn't as interesting or a natural extension of the story. Things took a nasty and very disappointing turn with Lady in the Water, a "fairy tale" that was neither magical nor provocative. But hey, everyone is allowed a misstep, right? We could work through this...I'm sure it would get better. Then, it happened...or rather, The Happening, a movie about killer plants and breezes apparently. It looked great...cinematography like a slinky black dress that promised so much, but the actual deed and the climax? Phoned in...uninspired and boring. The cinematic equivalent of faking it...
Sexually charged analogies aside, a once promising filmmaker akin to Spielberg had strayed far from the path of entertaining. His screenwriting got progressively sloppy...twists and deus ex machina becoming his crutches. I still enjoyed his films visually...he set mood and tone with the best, but everything else felt forced.
I give all this backdrop to build to the review for The Last Airbender, an adaptation of a popular cartoon. While "A Film By M. Night Shyamalan" no longer thrills me as it once did, Airbender looked like a step back in the right direction. The trailers seemed like epic fantasy in the style of LOTR or Harry Potter.
The actual result is closer to an expensive direct to DVD production. Airbender throws us into the story immediately, following the adventures of Aang (Noah Ringer), a tattooed monk-like child with the power to "bend" air and use it combined with martial arts. He's the only surviving airbender in a world at the throes of the Fire Nation (guess what they bend) and hooks up with a young water-bender and her brother. They speak of destiny and Aang's apparent role as an "Avatar" who can learn to bend all of the elements and restore peace, etc... These details are thrown out as either random voiceovers or overwrought exposition.
What immediately becomes apparent in Airbender's flaws are rushed, gap-filled plotting and atrocious dialogue. I'm not a fan of the show on which it's based, but apparently this film covers the first season which lends itself to the scattershot story beats. What is supposed to be a globe-trotting adventure instead comes off as a highlight reel of a broader tale with the parts that would connect the dots left out.
In between set pieces and action sequences, the mostly youthful cast speaks in generic lines that might have been written by the actors themselves...they would sound forced on Saturday morning programming, too. Character development is practically non-existent, save perhaps for Aang's nemesis, Prince Zuko (Dev Patel), a disgraced fire-bender seeking the Avatar to get back in his father's graces. Aang himself mostly looks confused and whiny. Shyamalan has taken flack for casting white actors in roles that were Asian in the cartoon, but really, he should be critiqued for picking wide-eyed kids that haven't even been through Acting 101.
What saves The Last Airbender from complete waste are the "bending" battle scenes. Watching these intricate dance/kung fu moves whipping water, ice, fire, air and earth about is fascinating and well choreographed, but it can't make up for the stale moments between. Planned as the first of a trilogy, I can't imagine the other two films will be coming soon to your local theatre. I can also safely say that M. Night Shyamalan will not get me in one again, either, no matter how many times he drunk dials me.
Rating: C-
Everyone knows how it began...The Sixth Sense was a smart, suspenseful film and even though I figured out the "don't tell" twist ten minutes in, I was pleased with how deftly the whole premise was executed. Shyamalan's next film, Unbreakable, was an underappreciated spin on comic book origins. The ending was a bit tacked on, but it didn't hurt the movie. With Signs I was officially hooked. I loved the idea of an alien invasion plot that didn't bother with the worldview...only how it would affect your average citizen. I was genuinely creeped out at several moments...a feat few films elicit for me.
At the peak of this "romance," I fully anticipated each time I got to see this director's name on screen. The Village still kept the mood, but the plot felt a little weak...the "twist" this time wasn't as interesting or a natural extension of the story. Things took a nasty and very disappointing turn with Lady in the Water, a "fairy tale" that was neither magical nor provocative. But hey, everyone is allowed a misstep, right? We could work through this...I'm sure it would get better. Then, it happened...or rather, The Happening, a movie about killer plants and breezes apparently. It looked great...cinematography like a slinky black dress that promised so much, but the actual deed and the climax? Phoned in...uninspired and boring. The cinematic equivalent of faking it...
Sexually charged analogies aside, a once promising filmmaker akin to Spielberg had strayed far from the path of entertaining. His screenwriting got progressively sloppy...twists and deus ex machina becoming his crutches. I still enjoyed his films visually...he set mood and tone with the best, but everything else felt forced.
I give all this backdrop to build to the review for The Last Airbender, an adaptation of a popular cartoon. While "A Film By M. Night Shyamalan" no longer thrills me as it once did, Airbender looked like a step back in the right direction. The trailers seemed like epic fantasy in the style of LOTR or Harry Potter.
The actual result is closer to an expensive direct to DVD production. Airbender throws us into the story immediately, following the adventures of Aang (Noah Ringer), a tattooed monk-like child with the power to "bend" air and use it combined with martial arts. He's the only surviving airbender in a world at the throes of the Fire Nation (guess what they bend) and hooks up with a young water-bender and her brother. They speak of destiny and Aang's apparent role as an "Avatar" who can learn to bend all of the elements and restore peace, etc... These details are thrown out as either random voiceovers or overwrought exposition.
What immediately becomes apparent in Airbender's flaws are rushed, gap-filled plotting and atrocious dialogue. I'm not a fan of the show on which it's based, but apparently this film covers the first season which lends itself to the scattershot story beats. What is supposed to be a globe-trotting adventure instead comes off as a highlight reel of a broader tale with the parts that would connect the dots left out.
In between set pieces and action sequences, the mostly youthful cast speaks in generic lines that might have been written by the actors themselves...they would sound forced on Saturday morning programming, too. Character development is practically non-existent, save perhaps for Aang's nemesis, Prince Zuko (Dev Patel), a disgraced fire-bender seeking the Avatar to get back in his father's graces. Aang himself mostly looks confused and whiny. Shyamalan has taken flack for casting white actors in roles that were Asian in the cartoon, but really, he should be critiqued for picking wide-eyed kids that haven't even been through Acting 101.
What saves The Last Airbender from complete waste are the "bending" battle scenes. Watching these intricate dance/kung fu moves whipping water, ice, fire, air and earth about is fascinating and well choreographed, but it can't make up for the stale moments between. Planned as the first of a trilogy, I can't imagine the other two films will be coming soon to your local theatre. I can also safely say that M. Night Shyamalan will not get me in one again, either, no matter how many times he drunk dials me.
Rating: C-
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