This was the first official episode of the new season and it felt great to see my old friend The Doctor back in action. After suffering some losses in the Christmas episode, it was time to lighten up. Cue Catherine Tate.
Last night's episode re-introduced Tate as The Doctor's new companion Donna Noble. Catherine Tate is very popular in England for her sketch comedy show and her comedic timing and sassy sensibility is a welcome addition to The Doctor's universe.
In the best scene last night, The Doctor and Donna get reacquainted from across a room using only hilarious sign language to communicate.
Based on this first outing and upcoming episodes Tate will bring a lot more comedy to The Doctor's world. She will also provide more balance as a companion because she will not be bogged down by hero worship like his previous companions.
I felt this was a great start to the new season, and with the surprise cameo at the end it appears we are in for a very interesting story arc.
Next week our heroes visit Pompeii and are faced with an impossible choice.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Doctor is back
“I’m The Doctor, I’m a Time Lord, I’m from the planet Gallifrey, I’m 903 years old, I’m the man that’s going to save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below, do you have a problem with that?”
If you aren’t already watching the BBC’s “Doctor Who” that one statement tells you everything you need to know about The Doctor. Here in the States “Doctor Who” airs on SCI-FI channel and BBC America. In England it is a phenomenon that routinely sets viewing records and has turned its cast and crew into household names.
“Doctor Who” is a legendary television franchise that was regenerated in 2005. The Doctor is a Time Lord who travels through space and time in his TARDIS, a space ship disguised as a big blue police box. He often takes companions with him on these travels and he usually ends up saving Earth and the rest of the Universe from some evil alien threat.
Season four of “Doctor Who began in England on April 5 and then premiered in America on April 18. If you’re a patient, law abiding fan, you probably waited until April 18 for SCI-FI channel’s season premiere that started with the Christmas special “Voyage of the Damned.”
However, if you’re an impatient rule breaker like me, you’ve been online and have already seen “Voyage of the Damned” and the first three episodes of the new season.
This season promises to be the most exciting yet, as The Doctor will be joined by new full-time companion Donna Noble played by British comedienne Catherine Tate. In episode four Martha Jones rejoins the TARDIS crew, and later this season Billie Piper returns as Rose Tyler, the new Doctor’s first companion.
Also on board this season, the fabulous John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness. This means The Doctor will be accompanied by four companions in one season. The TARDIS is sure going to get crowded, good thing it’s bigger on the inside.
While I may dream of being The Doctor’s fifth companion, I am dismayed by the news that once season four finishes there will be a year long absence before season five starts production. The truly amazing David Tennant, who plays The Doctor, will be playing Hamlet in a Royal Shakespeare Company production. This means the TARDIS will be temporarily shelved.
That means I will have to go an entire year without seeing The Doctor, Martha, Donna and Jack.
I guess I better savor every moment of season four. Well thank god for “Torchwood.”
If you aren’t already watching the BBC’s “Doctor Who” that one statement tells you everything you need to know about The Doctor. Here in the States “Doctor Who” airs on SCI-FI channel and BBC America. In England it is a phenomenon that routinely sets viewing records and has turned its cast and crew into household names.
“Doctor Who” is a legendary television franchise that was regenerated in 2005. The Doctor is a Time Lord who travels through space and time in his TARDIS, a space ship disguised as a big blue police box. He often takes companions with him on these travels and he usually ends up saving Earth and the rest of the Universe from some evil alien threat.
Season four of “Doctor Who began in England on April 5 and then premiered in America on April 18. If you’re a patient, law abiding fan, you probably waited until April 18 for SCI-FI channel’s season premiere that started with the Christmas special “Voyage of the Damned.”
However, if you’re an impatient rule breaker like me, you’ve been online and have already seen “Voyage of the Damned” and the first three episodes of the new season.
This season promises to be the most exciting yet, as The Doctor will be joined by new full-time companion Donna Noble played by British comedienne Catherine Tate. In episode four Martha Jones rejoins the TARDIS crew, and later this season Billie Piper returns as Rose Tyler, the new Doctor’s first companion.
Also on board this season, the fabulous John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness. This means The Doctor will be accompanied by four companions in one season. The TARDIS is sure going to get crowded, good thing it’s bigger on the inside.
While I may dream of being The Doctor’s fifth companion, I am dismayed by the news that once season four finishes there will be a year long absence before season five starts production. The truly amazing David Tennant, who plays The Doctor, will be playing Hamlet in a Royal Shakespeare Company production. This means the TARDIS will be temporarily shelved.
That means I will have to go an entire year without seeing The Doctor, Martha, Donna and Jack.
I guess I better savor every moment of season four. Well thank god for “Torchwood.”
Friday, February 15, 2008
Tim's instant "Lost" reactions for episode 3
So, more questions again!
I feel like the Riddler at the end of "Batman Forever" when he is babbling about "too many questions..."
They did answer a question that no one ever asked before, that the island is somehow 31 minutes out of sync with everything else. Even though that mystery is itself a giant question...
I have a theory about Miles, but you'll have to watch the next episode of "Viewpoints on..." to find out.
The ending, won't spoil, was surprising. That was a good part.
I feel like the Riddler at the end of "Batman Forever" when he is babbling about "too many questions..."
They did answer a question that no one ever asked before, that the island is somehow 31 minutes out of sync with everything else. Even though that mystery is itself a giant question...
I have a theory about Miles, but you'll have to watch the next episode of "Viewpoints on..." to find out.
The ending, won't spoil, was surprising. That was a good part.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Dan's Review of Three of the Best Picture nominees
Juno almost topped Across the Universe as the Worst Movie We As A Civilization Will Have To Experience. I wouldn't care that I sat through unrealistic situations, obscure reference after obscure reference (by a 16-year-old?!), a father who is surprisingly ok with his young daughter being "bored one day" and screwing some guy, and the fact that JENNIFER GARDNER SAVED THE MOVIE (??!!??!!), if it wasn't nominated for awards. Obviously they just didn't want to nominate too many movies that would be heavy contenders, so they pandered to a movie that seemed like it was written by a 13-year-old about a 16-year-old. It's not Knocked Up Lite because Knocked Up actually dealt with all of the mature issues in a funny way. In Knocked Up, the pregnant woman was miserable and terrified. Cut to Juno, where the girl is close to half her age, and the pregnant GIRL is wisecracking, not even really knowing she's pregnant until the middle ofthe second trimester, throws up once, throws one little tissy fit over prom. Who can greenlight something so blatantly horrible? And Jason Bateman plays Jennifer Garner's husband, a 30-omething jinglewriter who is stuck in a marriage. So what does he do to escape? He watches old horror movies and listens to eclectic music with Juno, and eventually puts the moves on her! What 30-something will put the moves on a pregnant 16-year-old to Mott the Hoople?! Did someone lose their mind writing this? Has the world gone insane? My only explanation is that a producer said "Wow, we could get a lot of sub-par names in thi and make a bundle. Let's have someone add some maturity at the end." So the older couple breaks up and Jennifer Garner gets the baby. Couple of good scenes in that. But then, it's right back to the stupid race: Juno and Michael Cera's character go back to being together, keep wasting away their days together, and act like it never happened. How is it some movies don't get greenlighted for insensitivity and moral issues, but Juno is made, which basically says that a 16-year-old can get pregnant, her dad will be fine with that, she can find a couple in the Pennysaver (I kid you not) to take it, she doesn't have to care enough about it to get updates on it wants it's gone, she'll barely feel any effects, and life will go back to normal after she has a child? Oh, and one last thing... the soundtrack. It was as irritating and forced as Juno's cynicism and witty taste was. You can only take so many folk songs about "wanting to be a bumble bee" and "you and me" and "things to be across the sea" before you want to go home and listen to Slayer for seven hours. Juno was the most tasteless, boring, forced, unrealistic, inhuman film I've had to see lately.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last year was a year to some real throwbacks, most notably westerns, and most notably "There Will Be Blood."
Paul Thomas Anderson took an Upton Sinclair novel about oil in general and worked it into a powerful story about an oil man, Daniel Plainview, who is dark, envious, proud, distrusting, and brutal.
Before I go into the actual plot at all, I want to note a few things Anderson did and didn't do that should get him a lot more credit.
Anderson didn't give us recycled characters. We didn't see Bill the Butcher from Gangs of New York (though Daniel Day Lewis did sport the same mustache for both characters). He also didn't give us the young brooding man Paul Dano played in "Little Miss Sunshine."
What we got was two characters who come to feel like wrecking balls. One swings around screen most of the time, and when the other hits, you're genuinely terrified of what the outcome will be.
Another thing Anderson has done brilliantly is shot a film in a way you don't expect or realize. Several major scenes are one continuous shot; no cutting from person to person, place to place. Anderson puts on an oil field and gives you only one set of eyes to understand the situation.
Another wholly satisfying and fresh tactic was when Plainview is at the dealing table trying to negotiate. How many times have we seen the camera fire back and forth while they cut deals?Not this time. We are fixed on Plainview, seeing his eyes twinkle as he ropes in land owners, and see the predator look slide across his face as they contemplate.
HOLD IT! It's not just filmMAKING that sets "There Will Be Blood above other standard movies. The acting is easiy the best of the year. With only two major actors (well, one for now) in the film, the casting was set perfectly to not overwhelm the audience and fish for awards, but to feel real.
The scene-stealer is easily Paul Dano, who plays the off-putting and down-right eerie Eli Sunday. YOu don't expect anyone to rival Plainviews drive, force and brute manly demeanor. But, out of the blinding daylight comes the sheepish, akward Sunday, seemingly unafraid of Plainview's power and stature.
Many scenes of the movie built around these two leave open-ended meanings that will start debates outside the theatre. In one scene, Sunday makes a bold move, leaving you abosolutely baffled as to what is going on in his head.
In the soon-to-be-famous church scene, Plainview atones for his sins (for purely capital reasons, of course), and Sunday drives an emotional stake through his heart, leading to the clip some of you may have seen on the Golden Globes of Plainview breaking down as he confesses he has abandonned his only son.
Another puzzling, open-ended moment is immediately after Plainview is "saved," when he whispers something to Sunday. It cannot be understood by us, but it leaves a myriad of feeling on Sunday's face, from horror, to nervousness, to faux satisfaction.
All of this leads to an unforseen ending sequence. Everyone's left wondering if the two men of different industries will ever have closure, and it comes in the most shocking, unforgiving, and sickly pleasurable ways.
Daniel Day Lewis, who rightfully won the Golden Globe for Best Actor, is still a scene stealer. I first saw him in "Gangs of New York," and was mesmerized by his commitment and honesty in a character. Where last time he was an evil man on the prowl in brutal times, Day Lewis became an evil man with glaring weakness and humanity for his role as Plainview.
While Day Lewis caps the movie with a one-line knock-out punch, it's just as good (and a whole lot less spoilerific) as his praise of Sunday's evangelical church service: "That was a Goddamn helluva show in there."
So, when Oscar time floats around, make sure you've sen this film. I can't promise that cheesey, recycled crap like Atonement will finally be snubbed for not reaching out of Jane Austen's back pocket, but perhaps Day Lewis will hold reign as the greatest actor of our time and Dano may get his Best Supporting award.
Overall, this movie is a low-key powerhouse. There are at least a handful of scenes you will miss the beginning of as you try to comprehend what had just previously happened. Unnerving tension and sometimes unpredictable, frightening characters make this movie an action film with only 30% action.
At times it can be slow, but there's always an underlying air to every scene that makes you wonder when the next bombs going to drop... and it always does, right up to the last line.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I truly had accepted There Will Be Blood as the deserving film of the year. But then I saw No Country For Old Men, a pulse-pounding game of cat an mouse that can only be described as... boom.
There's been a lot of talk of Javier Bardem's scene-stealing role as Anton Chigurh, a quiet, cold killing machine armed with some not-so-traditional weapons. Though the film is based mostly around Llewelyn Moss (played perfectly by Josh Brolin), a Vietnam Veteran who finds a bag full of money in the midst of a blown drug deal he stumbled upon. The only problem is that in the bag with the money is also a tracking device, putting Anton hot on his trail.
So begins an edge-of-your-seat scare fest. If Javier Bardem is on screen, you know bad things are about to happen. The only thing that makes it worse in when he is losing his patience chasing someone. At all times, however, he keeps his character calm, cool, and unexpectedly deadly.
Tommy Lee Jones gives a great performance as Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, a man who has taken up his post just like every ma in his family has. The only problem is that he seems very hesitant, even afraid to get really involved in the situation. Though he doesn't do much other than offer a great deal of excuses not to go to the rescue and some very good dialouge with his comrades, Tommy Lee Jones, as well as every character, finds his place eventually.
This movie is steady, dark, loud, and frightening. While some may think that it's just another "The Departed," it's actually a much more realistic look at the kind of men in situations like this; they aren't all courageous, or smart, or sane. They are all just men. The violence is graphic, but only because it would be in that situation.
No Country For Old Men is easily my favorite to win. Javier Bardem will no doubt get his chance to give an acceptance speech. But for what my opinion's worth, I'd say the Coen brothers will round out the night's festivities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last year was a year to some real throwbacks, most notably westerns, and most notably "There Will Be Blood."
Paul Thomas Anderson took an Upton Sinclair novel about oil in general and worked it into a powerful story about an oil man, Daniel Plainview, who is dark, envious, proud, distrusting, and brutal.
Before I go into the actual plot at all, I want to note a few things Anderson did and didn't do that should get him a lot more credit.
Anderson didn't give us recycled characters. We didn't see Bill the Butcher from Gangs of New York (though Daniel Day Lewis did sport the same mustache for both characters). He also didn't give us the young brooding man Paul Dano played in "Little Miss Sunshine."
What we got was two characters who come to feel like wrecking balls. One swings around screen most of the time, and when the other hits, you're genuinely terrified of what the outcome will be.
Another thing Anderson has done brilliantly is shot a film in a way you don't expect or realize. Several major scenes are one continuous shot; no cutting from person to person, place to place. Anderson puts on an oil field and gives you only one set of eyes to understand the situation.
Another wholly satisfying and fresh tactic was when Plainview is at the dealing table trying to negotiate. How many times have we seen the camera fire back and forth while they cut deals?Not this time. We are fixed on Plainview, seeing his eyes twinkle as he ropes in land owners, and see the predator look slide across his face as they contemplate.
HOLD IT! It's not just filmMAKING that sets "There Will Be Blood above other standard movies. The acting is easiy the best of the year. With only two major actors (well, one for now) in the film, the casting was set perfectly to not overwhelm the audience and fish for awards, but to feel real.
The scene-stealer is easily Paul Dano, who plays the off-putting and down-right eerie Eli Sunday. YOu don't expect anyone to rival Plainviews drive, force and brute manly demeanor. But, out of the blinding daylight comes the sheepish, akward Sunday, seemingly unafraid of Plainview's power and stature.
Many scenes of the movie built around these two leave open-ended meanings that will start debates outside the theatre. In one scene, Sunday makes a bold move, leaving you abosolutely baffled as to what is going on in his head.
In the soon-to-be-famous church scene, Plainview atones for his sins (for purely capital reasons, of course), and Sunday drives an emotional stake through his heart, leading to the clip some of you may have seen on the Golden Globes of Plainview breaking down as he confesses he has abandonned his only son.
Another puzzling, open-ended moment is immediately after Plainview is "saved," when he whispers something to Sunday. It cannot be understood by us, but it leaves a myriad of feeling on Sunday's face, from horror, to nervousness, to faux satisfaction.
All of this leads to an unforseen ending sequence. Everyone's left wondering if the two men of different industries will ever have closure, and it comes in the most shocking, unforgiving, and sickly pleasurable ways.
Daniel Day Lewis, who rightfully won the Golden Globe for Best Actor, is still a scene stealer. I first saw him in "Gangs of New York," and was mesmerized by his commitment and honesty in a character. Where last time he was an evil man on the prowl in brutal times, Day Lewis became an evil man with glaring weakness and humanity for his role as Plainview.
While Day Lewis caps the movie with a one-line knock-out punch, it's just as good (and a whole lot less spoilerific) as his praise of Sunday's evangelical church service: "That was a Goddamn helluva show in there."
So, when Oscar time floats around, make sure you've sen this film. I can't promise that cheesey, recycled crap like Atonement will finally be snubbed for not reaching out of Jane Austen's back pocket, but perhaps Day Lewis will hold reign as the greatest actor of our time and Dano may get his Best Supporting award.
Overall, this movie is a low-key powerhouse. There are at least a handful of scenes you will miss the beginning of as you try to comprehend what had just previously happened. Unnerving tension and sometimes unpredictable, frightening characters make this movie an action film with only 30% action.
At times it can be slow, but there's always an underlying air to every scene that makes you wonder when the next bombs going to drop... and it always does, right up to the last line.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I truly had accepted There Will Be Blood as the deserving film of the year. But then I saw No Country For Old Men, a pulse-pounding game of cat an mouse that can only be described as... boom.
There's been a lot of talk of Javier Bardem's scene-stealing role as Anton Chigurh, a quiet, cold killing machine armed with some not-so-traditional weapons. Though the film is based mostly around Llewelyn Moss (played perfectly by Josh Brolin), a Vietnam Veteran who finds a bag full of money in the midst of a blown drug deal he stumbled upon. The only problem is that in the bag with the money is also a tracking device, putting Anton hot on his trail.
So begins an edge-of-your-seat scare fest. If Javier Bardem is on screen, you know bad things are about to happen. The only thing that makes it worse in when he is losing his patience chasing someone. At all times, however, he keeps his character calm, cool, and unexpectedly deadly.
Tommy Lee Jones gives a great performance as Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, a man who has taken up his post just like every ma in his family has. The only problem is that he seems very hesitant, even afraid to get really involved in the situation. Though he doesn't do much other than offer a great deal of excuses not to go to the rescue and some very good dialouge with his comrades, Tommy Lee Jones, as well as every character, finds his place eventually.
This movie is steady, dark, loud, and frightening. While some may think that it's just another "The Departed," it's actually a much more realistic look at the kind of men in situations like this; they aren't all courageous, or smart, or sane. They are all just men. The violence is graphic, but only because it would be in that situation.
No Country For Old Men is easily my favorite to win. Javier Bardem will no doubt get his chance to give an acceptance speech. But for what my opinion's worth, I'd say the Coen brothers will round out the night's festivities.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Tim's instant "Lost" reactions
More new people...
More new questions...
More new mysteries...
Seeing a pattern here?
At least the Smoke Monster was revealed as... wait... Ben doesn't know either!?!
Is it just me or does every place off the island look like Hawaii too? I've been to Inglewood and it doesn't look like that.
$10 says the girl Locke captured is Ben's "man on the boat." Why would an Anthropologist wear a bullet proof vest when the other members of the team didn't? Kind of convienent?
More new questions...
More new mysteries...
Seeing a pattern here?
At least the Smoke Monster was revealed as... wait... Ben doesn't know either!?!
Is it just me or does every place off the island look like Hawaii too? I've been to Inglewood and it doesn't look like that.
$10 says the girl Locke captured is Ben's "man on the boat." Why would an Anthropologist wear a bullet proof vest when the other members of the team didn't? Kind of convienent?
LOST, Episode 4.02 "Confirmed Dead" Recap/Reactions!!!
First off, kudos to ABC for airing last week's episode. Great idea to give people another chance to get into this season. Kind of like saying "Yeah, we've been gone, and we know you're sketchy about coming back, but we'll give you one more chance to think it over."
I'm really excited to see Jeremy Davies (playing Daniel Faraday) on tonight's episode. He's an interesting actor, definately the kind of guy who belongs on Lost.
So let's begin watching LOST, Episode 4.02, "Confirmed Dead"...
Oceanic Flight 815 is found!.... Underwater?! The online game eluded to this. Apparently it has something to do with Desmond's girlfriend's father. So there's some sort of decoy coverup going on. Is it just to stop Penny from looking? I doubt it. Maybe Ben did it to keep people from looking for the island. Is Ben and Penny's father in cahoots?
Daniel Faraday is flatout WEIRD. Something just isn't right there. Is he just some weird savant, or is he hiding something? He's obviously not a covert spy; he just let that A-bomb drop: "Rescuing you....not our primary objective."
DUH. I think we all pieced that together. How about you tell us what you're there for?
Another piece of the insanedom is dropped when Locke shows off his wicked-cool bullet scar. If he hadn't been used and abused by his dad (including having his father con him out of a kidney), Locke would now be dead.
And another random theory from me: If Walt's back and taller, that means he's older, and he's aged fast. If time really is an issue, and Richard (the Other that doesn't seem to age) is still his age, maybe people on the island are in a sort of slowed down time space. Maybe people coming to the island have gone through a year missing Flight 815, when it's only been a month to them. That explains Jack's dad being dead in the flashforward as well.
Then there's Miles. The dude from X3 (I can't recall his name) is pretty good. Nothing really big from him, except how did he know Naomi was dead?!
So...... Miles is a medium..... huh? Was that necessary? Unless he can go to the caves and "speak" to Adam and Eve, I don't see the importance. The survivors already have Desmond for psychic entertainment. And as far as that goes, they have Locke to be weird. I guess they're just upping the antie.
****TIM NOTE**** Miles+Jacob=Answers! $20 Segraves bucks for Tim!
THERE'S the big eyebrow raiser: "The light here... it just doesn't seem to scatter right."
Daniel Faraday either is running around the jungle on shrooms or gave us a brilliant little nugget of a clue. Maybe another one of Dharma's experiments? Maybe altertering light to hide the island? Am I reaching to far?
Granted, I think Miles is a cool character, but the situation that Miles and Jack are in, and how quickly it turned, really makes you want to be Jack's wingman: "Yeah, Miles! HOW STUPID ARE YOU, PUNK?"
Wow, chick with a horrible accent in the desert. Is she British? I don't know. I've heard twelve-year-olds do better accents.
POLAR BEAR?! How did it get there? WHAT? Dharma Bear! AHHH!
I'm guessing a rouge group of polar bears were in route to save the last Dharma polar bear when their chopper went down. I wonder if Sawyer killing the polar bear will have any ill effects between the Oceanic Six and the United Polar Bears union when they get off the island....
Anyways, back to the actual show. Team Locke catches Bad Actress and they have a sort of question and answer segment with a whole lot of akwardness. That is, until John let's her know that they are the survivors who DON'T want to leave.
As Team Jack marches their new "friends" through the forest, hillarity ensues. The love triangle between Jack, Kate and Juliet just got way better. I just laughed really hard at the whole exchange where Jack's kind of caught in the middle. He's bonded with both of these women through their struggle to survive, now he's caught in between. POOR JACK, two beautiful women after him...
Faraday and Sayid have a pleasant conversation with some funny attitude from Miles tossed in. Great scene!
Cool old man. Plus a nice cameo from Greg Grunberg. Guess he has nothing better to do since Dissapointment... I mean, Heroes... is off the air right now.
Oooh.... not his body? That means... Flight 815 is not in the water! GASP! Yeah, let's move it along, we're all aware that there's some kind of hoax going..... oh. Cool Old Man was supposed to fly the plane. That could lead to some very odd things in the future, especially if everyone was predestined to be on the island.
COW! HAHAHAHAHA!!! Sorry, I find that hillarious.
CHOPPER! That's more like it. Now things will start to get desperate. There's a viable way out, so now there's not really a way to further that plotline. So we can focus on the island, right?
Well, there's yet another twist! The strange dude that was after Hugo sent Naomi and the mod squad to the island. What the h---?!
Oh, crap! There's a hit out on Ben! For what though? For killing the Dharma Initiavtive? But then Oceanic is in this with Dharma. It seems there's a whole lot of corporate shenanigans going on.
So, Ben's in danger, he has someone on their boat (Dharma Bear?), and there's a chance for actual rescue.
I'm confused. This episode threw a whole bunch of twists and information at me. They need to start organizing it out or I may end up like Faraday.
I'm really excited to see Jeremy Davies (playing Daniel Faraday) on tonight's episode. He's an interesting actor, definately the kind of guy who belongs on Lost.
So let's begin watching LOST, Episode 4.02, "Confirmed Dead"...
Oceanic Flight 815 is found!.... Underwater?! The online game eluded to this. Apparently it has something to do with Desmond's girlfriend's father. So there's some sort of decoy coverup going on. Is it just to stop Penny from looking? I doubt it. Maybe Ben did it to keep people from looking for the island. Is Ben and Penny's father in cahoots?
Daniel Faraday is flatout WEIRD. Something just isn't right there. Is he just some weird savant, or is he hiding something? He's obviously not a covert spy; he just let that A-bomb drop: "Rescuing you....not our primary objective."
DUH. I think we all pieced that together. How about you tell us what you're there for?
Another piece of the insanedom is dropped when Locke shows off his wicked-cool bullet scar. If he hadn't been used and abused by his dad (including having his father con him out of a kidney), Locke would now be dead.
And another random theory from me: If Walt's back and taller, that means he's older, and he's aged fast. If time really is an issue, and Richard (the Other that doesn't seem to age) is still his age, maybe people on the island are in a sort of slowed down time space. Maybe people coming to the island have gone through a year missing Flight 815, when it's only been a month to them. That explains Jack's dad being dead in the flashforward as well.
Then there's Miles. The dude from X3 (I can't recall his name) is pretty good. Nothing really big from him, except how did he know Naomi was dead?!
So...... Miles is a medium..... huh? Was that necessary? Unless he can go to the caves and "speak" to Adam and Eve, I don't see the importance. The survivors already have Desmond for psychic entertainment. And as far as that goes, they have Locke to be weird. I guess they're just upping the antie.
****TIM NOTE**** Miles+Jacob=Answers! $20 Segraves bucks for Tim!
THERE'S the big eyebrow raiser: "The light here... it just doesn't seem to scatter right."
Daniel Faraday either is running around the jungle on shrooms or gave us a brilliant little nugget of a clue. Maybe another one of Dharma's experiments? Maybe altertering light to hide the island? Am I reaching to far?
Granted, I think Miles is a cool character, but the situation that Miles and Jack are in, and how quickly it turned, really makes you want to be Jack's wingman: "Yeah, Miles! HOW STUPID ARE YOU, PUNK?"
Wow, chick with a horrible accent in the desert. Is she British? I don't know. I've heard twelve-year-olds do better accents.
POLAR BEAR?! How did it get there? WHAT? Dharma Bear! AHHH!
I'm guessing a rouge group of polar bears were in route to save the last Dharma polar bear when their chopper went down. I wonder if Sawyer killing the polar bear will have any ill effects between the Oceanic Six and the United Polar Bears union when they get off the island....
Anyways, back to the actual show. Team Locke catches Bad Actress and they have a sort of question and answer segment with a whole lot of akwardness. That is, until John let's her know that they are the survivors who DON'T want to leave.
As Team Jack marches their new "friends" through the forest, hillarity ensues. The love triangle between Jack, Kate and Juliet just got way better. I just laughed really hard at the whole exchange where Jack's kind of caught in the middle. He's bonded with both of these women through their struggle to survive, now he's caught in between. POOR JACK, two beautiful women after him...
Faraday and Sayid have a pleasant conversation with some funny attitude from Miles tossed in. Great scene!
Cool old man. Plus a nice cameo from Greg Grunberg. Guess he has nothing better to do since Dissapointment... I mean, Heroes... is off the air right now.
Oooh.... not his body? That means... Flight 815 is not in the water! GASP! Yeah, let's move it along, we're all aware that there's some kind of hoax going..... oh. Cool Old Man was supposed to fly the plane. That could lead to some very odd things in the future, especially if everyone was predestined to be on the island.
COW! HAHAHAHAHA!!! Sorry, I find that hillarious.
CHOPPER! That's more like it. Now things will start to get desperate. There's a viable way out, so now there's not really a way to further that plotline. So we can focus on the island, right?
Well, there's yet another twist! The strange dude that was after Hugo sent Naomi and the mod squad to the island. What the h---?!
Oh, crap! There's a hit out on Ben! For what though? For killing the Dharma Initiavtive? But then Oceanic is in this with Dharma. It seems there's a whole lot of corporate shenanigans going on.
So, Ben's in danger, he has someone on their boat (Dharma Bear?), and there's a chance for actual rescue.
I'm confused. This episode threw a whole bunch of twists and information at me. They need to start organizing it out or I may end up like Faraday.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Will "Cloverfield" Change The Industry Or Start A Fad?
Fresh out of the theatre today, I was taken by surprise; "Cloverfield" knocked my socks off. Yet some actually were demanding their money back. Why? Because this is a controversial movie for all of the right reasons. Here are a few:
1. THE RETURN OF "SHAKEY-CAM"- The old (well, not really old) technique that gives film an amateur, onthe-spot realism that put "The Blair Witch Project" on the map. "Cloverfield is the triumphant return of this type of movie. The difference is that "Blair" made it a gimmick. "Cloverfield" commits on all levels.
Yes, the beginning was confusing, until you piece together that the movie is being filmed over footage of two of the characters earlier on. But as far as creativity and presence is concerned, this works. The idea of taping over another tape is realistic and makes for a genius way to do flashbacks.
As far as the shakey cam itself, it's just as legitimate and nessecary as a choreographer or color scheme in a movie; it's make the movie that much more believable. You'd be taken out of the scene if the characters were constantly stopping to get Scorcese-style panoramics.
2. UNKNOWN ACTORS HOLD SMALL BOX OFFICE DRAW- True, but with the name J.J. Abrams, who needs anything else? I wasn't a huge fan of Abrams until I started watching ABC's "Lost," but I will now give anything associated with Abrams a shot.
The actors aren't bad, either. If any second-year film student thinks about it, you would have to have unknowns. The closest actor to fame is Michael-Stahl David ("The Black Donnelys"), who plays Rob.
This is a "random" tape found after a disaster, and I doubt Tom Hanks chills with his friends in a swank Manhattan loft.
3. SHORT, POINTLESS EYE CANDY?!- Not... one... bit. The movie was a mere hour and a half, but as the credits roled, I felt like I had sat through two and a half hours of non-stop action. I was thrilled. Drew Goddard (writer) proved you don't need to write a saga, you just need to get the story out.
And "pointless" is the exact opposite description of this movie. I'll admit it right here: I teared up. Yeah. I, a 21-year-old male, almost cried in a monster movie. Why am I not ashamed? Despite not being macho, this movie was also not JUST a monster flick. It was a fast-paced story about how far a person will go for someone they love. The underlying story between main character Rob and his ex-girlfriend, damzel-in-distress Beth (played by Odette Yustman) really shone through.
So, which is it? Is "Cloverfield" an instant classic that will echo for generations or is it the first of a million knockoffs?
The answer is: BOTH. "Cloverfield" itself is a great film with the same shock value and fun of the monster movies of the golden age of film. It's also going to spawn absolutely disgusting followups from other companies, such as "The Poughkeepsie Tapes," a film made by a serial killer chronicalling his twisted work.
If you want to have a great time laughing, crying, screaming, jumping, and screaming, go see "Cloverfield." But be warned: this is only the beginning...
1. THE RETURN OF "SHAKEY-CAM"- The old (well, not really old) technique that gives film an amateur, onthe-spot realism that put "The Blair Witch Project" on the map. "Cloverfield is the triumphant return of this type of movie. The difference is that "Blair" made it a gimmick. "Cloverfield" commits on all levels.
Yes, the beginning was confusing, until you piece together that the movie is being filmed over footage of two of the characters earlier on. But as far as creativity and presence is concerned, this works. The idea of taping over another tape is realistic and makes for a genius way to do flashbacks.
As far as the shakey cam itself, it's just as legitimate and nessecary as a choreographer or color scheme in a movie; it's make the movie that much more believable. You'd be taken out of the scene if the characters were constantly stopping to get Scorcese-style panoramics.
2. UNKNOWN ACTORS HOLD SMALL BOX OFFICE DRAW- True, but with the name J.J. Abrams, who needs anything else? I wasn't a huge fan of Abrams until I started watching ABC's "Lost," but I will now give anything associated with Abrams a shot.
The actors aren't bad, either. If any second-year film student thinks about it, you would have to have unknowns. The closest actor to fame is Michael-Stahl David ("The Black Donnelys"), who plays Rob.
This is a "random" tape found after a disaster, and I doubt Tom Hanks chills with his friends in a swank Manhattan loft.
3. SHORT, POINTLESS EYE CANDY?!- Not... one... bit. The movie was a mere hour and a half, but as the credits roled, I felt like I had sat through two and a half hours of non-stop action. I was thrilled. Drew Goddard (writer) proved you don't need to write a saga, you just need to get the story out.
And "pointless" is the exact opposite description of this movie. I'll admit it right here: I teared up. Yeah. I, a 21-year-old male, almost cried in a monster movie. Why am I not ashamed? Despite not being macho, this movie was also not JUST a monster flick. It was a fast-paced story about how far a person will go for someone they love. The underlying story between main character Rob and his ex-girlfriend, damzel-in-distress Beth (played by Odette Yustman) really shone through.
So, which is it? Is "Cloverfield" an instant classic that will echo for generations or is it the first of a million knockoffs?
The answer is: BOTH. "Cloverfield" itself is a great film with the same shock value and fun of the monster movies of the golden age of film. It's also going to spawn absolutely disgusting followups from other companies, such as "The Poughkeepsie Tapes," a film made by a serial killer chronicalling his twisted work.
If you want to have a great time laughing, crying, screaming, jumping, and screaming, go see "Cloverfield." But be warned: this is only the beginning...
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
John Doe Has the Upper Hand!
With my "Fight Club" blog as my last entry, I decided to keep the Fincher-theme going and make what very well could be my last blog an entry on "SE7EN," a film that, without exaggerating, is one of the greatest films you will ever see, whether or not you're a horror fan.
This 1995 thriller sees a serial killer who cryptically calls himself John Doe take inspiration from the Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Lust, Pride, Envy, and Wrath. In thinking about what piece of cinema I could possibly call my favorite, I had a hell of a time, but finally came upon one scene (minor spoilers contained herein.)
I was also conflicted when it comes to revealing who plays Doe himself. While it's not exactly a secret, and if you really wanted to, you could find out yourself, I think the impact of the revelation would be tremendous if you didn't already know who the actor was. It is this actor's unparalelled skills that truly make this scene.
Following John Doe's fifth murder (that of pride, in which he slices off a model's nose..."to spite her face," as the old saying goes), he enters the police station and reveals himself to Detectives Mills & Somerset (Brad Pitt & Morgan Freeman, respectively.) Through his attorney, he then reveals that there are two extra bodies buried in the desert, and should Mills & Somerset accompany him to find those bodies, he will plead guilty to every murder he has committed.
What follows is most definitely one of the most compelling scenes in cinema, and it all takes place in a simple police car. From behind the mesh divider, Doe explains the reasoning behind his actions at length, defining it as a sort of "cleansing" process, when what he's done is written off as just "killing innocent people." "Innocent? Is that supposed to be funny?", snaps Doe at a smug Detective Mills.
I wouldn't want to risk diminishing the impact of the speech, so I won't transcribe it here word for word. I recommend buying "SE7EN," if you don't own it already, or at least renting it from your local video store, and witnessing great writing, directing, and acting coming together in a disturbing, yet unimaginably impressive picture.
Well, Inscapers...it's been fun. Not much more to say.
Stay classy, Riverside.
This 1995 thriller sees a serial killer who cryptically calls himself John Doe take inspiration from the Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Lust, Pride, Envy, and Wrath. In thinking about what piece of cinema I could possibly call my favorite, I had a hell of a time, but finally came upon one scene (minor spoilers contained herein.)
I was also conflicted when it comes to revealing who plays Doe himself. While it's not exactly a secret, and if you really wanted to, you could find out yourself, I think the impact of the revelation would be tremendous if you didn't already know who the actor was. It is this actor's unparalelled skills that truly make this scene.
Following John Doe's fifth murder (that of pride, in which he slices off a model's nose..."to spite her face," as the old saying goes), he enters the police station and reveals himself to Detectives Mills & Somerset (Brad Pitt & Morgan Freeman, respectively.) Through his attorney, he then reveals that there are two extra bodies buried in the desert, and should Mills & Somerset accompany him to find those bodies, he will plead guilty to every murder he has committed.
What follows is most definitely one of the most compelling scenes in cinema, and it all takes place in a simple police car. From behind the mesh divider, Doe explains the reasoning behind his actions at length, defining it as a sort of "cleansing" process, when what he's done is written off as just "killing innocent people." "Innocent? Is that supposed to be funny?", snaps Doe at a smug Detective Mills.
I wouldn't want to risk diminishing the impact of the speech, so I won't transcribe it here word for word. I recommend buying "SE7EN," if you don't own it already, or at least renting it from your local video store, and witnessing great writing, directing, and acting coming together in a disturbing, yet unimaginably impressive picture.
Well, Inscapers...it's been fun. Not much more to say.
Stay classy, Riverside.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Perfect piece of cinema
As I stated last week, “Jurassic Park” is one of my favorite films of all time. It is only fitting that my favorite scene in a movie is from the film.
Back at the start of summer when we created a list of topics for us to blog about, I thought about how much I loved this particular part in “Jurassic Park” and suggested this topic.
The scene I am talking about is when the main characters arrive at Jurassic Park and are driving in the Jeeps. The scene really focuses on three characters; Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Nei1l), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum.)
Sattler is looking at some plant life, which she says has been extinct for millions of years and all of a sudden Grant’s hand turns her head to look at the dinosaur (I believe it is a Brontosaurus).
The great thing about this movie is that the main characters see the dinosaurs the same time as the audience does, so there is a shared feeling of “WOW!”
Everything is perfect and dead-on with this scene. The directing hits all the right marks, the writing makes you feel like you are right there and the acting is as good as it gets. Neill’s performance in this scene was overlooked by many people. Here was a man who had studied fossils all his life and now he was looking at a living breathing dinosaur in front of him, he does what most people might do (well, other than run screaming…), have to sit down. The look on Grant’s face when he sees the dozens of other dinosaurs in the distance is also great and so full of emotion, especially when he comes to the realization that he was right in his work “They're moving in herds. They do move in herds.”
I challenge anyone to say that they hated this scene (must have a good arguement!).
On a sad note, this is my last blog for this site. Stay tuned for a new set of writers to take over. I promise they will at least try to be entertaining.
Thank you and goodnight.
Back at the start of summer when we created a list of topics for us to blog about, I thought about how much I loved this particular part in “Jurassic Park” and suggested this topic.
The scene I am talking about is when the main characters arrive at Jurassic Park and are driving in the Jeeps. The scene really focuses on three characters; Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Nei1l), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum.)
Sattler is looking at some plant life, which she says has been extinct for millions of years and all of a sudden Grant’s hand turns her head to look at the dinosaur (I believe it is a Brontosaurus).
The great thing about this movie is that the main characters see the dinosaurs the same time as the audience does, so there is a shared feeling of “WOW!”
Everything is perfect and dead-on with this scene. The directing hits all the right marks, the writing makes you feel like you are right there and the acting is as good as it gets. Neill’s performance in this scene was overlooked by many people. Here was a man who had studied fossils all his life and now he was looking at a living breathing dinosaur in front of him, he does what most people might do (well, other than run screaming…), have to sit down. The look on Grant’s face when he sees the dozens of other dinosaurs in the distance is also great and so full of emotion, especially when he comes to the realization that he was right in his work “They're moving in herds. They do move in herds.”
I challenge anyone to say that they hated this scene (must have a good arguement!).
On a sad note, this is my last blog for this site. Stay tuned for a new set of writers to take over. I promise they will at least try to be entertaining.
Thank you and goodnight.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
The first rule is...
As much as I'd love to say that I hate "Fight Club," I simply can't. As much of a cult hit as it has become, it'd be easy for me to sit here and say, "I don't see why everyone loves it so much," but I can't say that. Simply put, "Fight Club" is my favorite movie, bar none.
Between David Fincher's ("SE7EN, Panic Room") darker-than-dark directing, Jim Uhls' fantastic screenplay based on Chuck Palahniuk's book of the same name, and the jaw-droppingly skillful acting trio of Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter, "Fight Club" is not a movie you can easily ignore.
Brad Pitt steals the show in this film, no questions asked. His portrayal of Tyler Durden has created a character that has become legendary in cinema, a smugly anarchistic man's man that is the embodiment of what the contemporary male longs to be.
Being a projectionist named Tyler D. myself, I feel a certain connection with the character. Pitt's delivery, his manner of speaking, makes the role, and one of the most unforgettable moments in the movie, albeit not a single line (although the first two rules are the most famous), is his recitation of "the rules," the fight club ethos. These are as follows:
"Gentlemen, welcome to fight club. The first rule of fight club is you do not talk about fight club. The second rule of fight club is...you do not talk about fight club. Third rule of fight club...someone yells "stop," goes limp, taps out, the fight is over. Fourth rule...only two guys to a fight. Fifth rule...one fight at a time, fellas. Sixth rule...no shirts, no shoes. Seventh rule...fights will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth, and final, rule...if this is your first night at fight club...you have to fight."
Of course, this is just a sample of the incredible dialogue that comes out of Tyler Durden's mouth, or anyone in the film's, for that matter. See more of it here.
Or, better yet, go out and buy the book by Chuck Palahniuk, definitely my favorite author and one of the best ones around today.
Between David Fincher's ("SE7EN, Panic Room") darker-than-dark directing, Jim Uhls' fantastic screenplay based on Chuck Palahniuk's book of the same name, and the jaw-droppingly skillful acting trio of Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter, "Fight Club" is not a movie you can easily ignore.
Brad Pitt steals the show in this film, no questions asked. His portrayal of Tyler Durden has created a character that has become legendary in cinema, a smugly anarchistic man's man that is the embodiment of what the contemporary male longs to be.
Being a projectionist named Tyler D. myself, I feel a certain connection with the character. Pitt's delivery, his manner of speaking, makes the role, and one of the most unforgettable moments in the movie, albeit not a single line (although the first two rules are the most famous), is his recitation of "the rules," the fight club ethos. These are as follows:
"Gentlemen, welcome to fight club. The first rule of fight club is you do not talk about fight club. The second rule of fight club is...you do not talk about fight club. Third rule of fight club...someone yells "stop," goes limp, taps out, the fight is over. Fourth rule...only two guys to a fight. Fifth rule...one fight at a time, fellas. Sixth rule...no shirts, no shoes. Seventh rule...fights will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth, and final, rule...if this is your first night at fight club...you have to fight."
Of course, this is just a sample of the incredible dialogue that comes out of Tyler Durden's mouth, or anyone in the film's, for that matter. See more of it here.
Or, better yet, go out and buy the book by Chuck Palahniuk, definitely my favorite author and one of the best ones around today.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Jeff Goldblum gets all the good lines!
Over the next two weeks and two blogs you will notice something... that
“Jurassic Park” is one of my favorite films of all time.
One of my favorite things about the film is the dialogue, especially of the character Dr. Ian Malcolm, played by Jeff Goldblum. I think the fact that Michael Crichton, with David Koepp, had a hand in the screenplay, based on his book, was a determining factor in the dialogue being so well-written.
When it came to picking one quote from the film that I liked the best, it was a no-brainer.
John Hammond: All major theme parks have had delays. When they opened Disneyland in 1956, nothing worked, nothing.
Dr. Ian Malcolm: But, John. If the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists.
Malcolm also has some other great lines that I enjoyed.
Dr. Ian Malcolm: I'll tell you the problem with the scientific power that you're using here: it didn't require any discipline to attain it. You read what others had done and you took the next step. You didn't earn the knowledge for yourselves, so you don't take any responsibility for it. You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could and before you even knew what you had you patented it and packaged it and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now you're selling it, you want to sell it!
Dr. Ian Malcolm: But again, how do you know they're all female? Does someone go into the park and, uh... lift up the dinosaurs' skirts?
Dr. Ian Malcolm: [Ian Malcolm leans to face camera in electric tour car when the T-Rex doesn't appear] Now eventually you might have dinosaurs on your, on your dinosaur tour, right? Hello? yes? [he taps the camera lens and breathes on it]
Check out some other great lines from “Jurassic Park” here
“Jurassic Park” is one of my favorite films of all time.
One of my favorite things about the film is the dialogue, especially of the character Dr. Ian Malcolm, played by Jeff Goldblum. I think the fact that Michael Crichton, with David Koepp, had a hand in the screenplay, based on his book, was a determining factor in the dialogue being so well-written.
When it came to picking one quote from the film that I liked the best, it was a no-brainer.
John Hammond: All major theme parks have had delays. When they opened Disneyland in 1956, nothing worked, nothing.
Dr. Ian Malcolm: But, John. If the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists.
Malcolm also has some other great lines that I enjoyed.
Dr. Ian Malcolm: I'll tell you the problem with the scientific power that you're using here: it didn't require any discipline to attain it. You read what others had done and you took the next step. You didn't earn the knowledge for yourselves, so you don't take any responsibility for it. You stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as you could and before you even knew what you had you patented it and packaged it and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now you're selling it, you want to sell it!
Dr. Ian Malcolm: But again, how do you know they're all female? Does someone go into the park and, uh... lift up the dinosaurs' skirts?
Dr. Ian Malcolm: [Ian Malcolm leans to face camera in electric tour car when the T-Rex doesn't appear] Now eventually you might have dinosaurs on your, on your dinosaur tour, right? Hello? yes? [he taps the camera lens and breathes on it]
Check out some other great lines from “Jurassic Park” here
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
The Best Kept Secret in Hollywood...
With the topic being "the actor that needs to be in more movies," my original pick was Chris Kattan. Between the comic relief he provides in 1999's "House on Haunted Hill" to his dimwitted but lovable portrayal of danceaholic Doug Butabi in 1998's "A Night At the Roxbury" (alongside a then fairly unknown Will Ferrell), Kattan is a much funnier personality than people give him credit for.
But, when thinking about the different Kattan movies that I enjoy, my focus quickly turned to one of his older brothers in 2001's "Corky Romano," Peter Berg (the other being another underrated talent, the late Chris Penn.)
Lately, Berg has been making a name for himself in the field of directing, helming such titles as 2003's "The Rundown," starring The Rock in one of his first starring roles, 2004's "Friday Night Lights," and the upcoming Jamie Foxx vehicle, "The Kingdom."
While his directing skills are quickly becoming some of the most sought-after in Hollywood, Berg's acting skills (and specifically, his comedic chops) are oft-overlooked.
One of his most hilarious performances is Berg's straight-laced portrayal of boxer-turned-rocker-turned-boxer-again, "Irish" Terry Conklin, in 1996's "The Great White Hype." Berg never cracks a smile while delivering some of the funniest lines in the movie opposite Damon Wayans' just-as-deadpan James "The Grim Reaper" Roper, not the least of which is an acoustic song entitled "Mr. Roper, Mr. Roper," in which Conklin enthusiastically promises to "open up a case of butt-whippin'" on Roper.
Also worth checking out is Berg's performance in the afore-mentioned "Corky Romano," playing the tough but illiterate older brother of the title character, as well as his brief role as "Pistol" Pete Deeks in this year's "Smokin' Aces."
Tyler's bottom line: as good of a director as he is, Peter Berg deserves to be on-screen just as much as behind the camera in the future.
But, when thinking about the different Kattan movies that I enjoy, my focus quickly turned to one of his older brothers in 2001's "Corky Romano," Peter Berg (the other being another underrated talent, the late Chris Penn.)
Lately, Berg has been making a name for himself in the field of directing, helming such titles as 2003's "The Rundown," starring The Rock in one of his first starring roles, 2004's "Friday Night Lights," and the upcoming Jamie Foxx vehicle, "The Kingdom."
While his directing skills are quickly becoming some of the most sought-after in Hollywood, Berg's acting skills (and specifically, his comedic chops) are oft-overlooked.
One of his most hilarious performances is Berg's straight-laced portrayal of boxer-turned-rocker-turned-boxer-again, "Irish" Terry Conklin, in 1996's "The Great White Hype." Berg never cracks a smile while delivering some of the funniest lines in the movie opposite Damon Wayans' just-as-deadpan James "The Grim Reaper" Roper, not the least of which is an acoustic song entitled "Mr. Roper, Mr. Roper," in which Conklin enthusiastically promises to "open up a case of butt-whippin'" on Roper.
Also worth checking out is Berg's performance in the afore-mentioned "Corky Romano," playing the tough but illiterate older brother of the title character, as well as his brief role as "Pistol" Pete Deeks in this year's "Smokin' Aces."
Tyler's bottom line: as good of a director as he is, Peter Berg deserves to be on-screen just as much as behind the camera in the future.
Monday, August 6, 2007
This actor needs to be working more!
Meet Alan Tudyk.
OK, the name might not be familiar, but chances are you have seen him in a few movies. In fact he was just in the movie “Knocked Up” as the E! boss of Katherine Heigl’s character. But, I think he needs to be in more movies… and not just in a minor role. He is a great character actor that deserves to be in a leading role.
Tudyk might be most well known for his role of Wash on the television show “Firefly” and its film version “Serenity.” He was the pilot of Serenity and was usually the comic relief, providing one of my favorite parts of the film:
Hoban 'Wash' Washburn: This landing is gonna get pretty interesting.
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: Define "interesting".
Hoban 'Wash' Washburn: [deadpan] Oh God, oh God, we're all going to die?
Another comedic role he is known for is of Steve the pirate in “Dodgeball.”
One role he might not be well-known for is the robot Sonny in the film “I, Robot.” Sure he supplied the voice for the CGI robot, but many people might not know is the filmmakers took a page out of the “Lord of the Rings” playbook and had Tudyk provide the body movements of the character as well. That can’t be an easy job. His performance in the film is one of the reasons I love that film so much... yeah I love a Will Smith movie, sue me.
He took two different routes in playing a serious, dramatic role of a child molester on the television show “CSI.” Watching the episode and his performance makes you forget all about Steve the pirate.
Tudyk has two movies coming out soon. First the comedy “Death at a funeral” which, from the previews, looks to be a good sized role. He is also going to be sharing the screen with Christian Bale and Russell Crowe coming up in the western “3:10 to Yuma,” which is a dramatic turn.
Tudyk is extremely underrated in Hollywood and I really want to see him in more movies. He should be working more than people like Jack Black and Will Ferrell.
A list of his acting work to check out!
OK, the name might not be familiar, but chances are you have seen him in a few movies. In fact he was just in the movie “Knocked Up” as the E! boss of Katherine Heigl’s character. But, I think he needs to be in more movies… and not just in a minor role. He is a great character actor that deserves to be in a leading role.
Tudyk might be most well known for his role of Wash on the television show “Firefly” and its film version “Serenity.” He was the pilot of Serenity and was usually the comic relief, providing one of my favorite parts of the film:
Hoban 'Wash' Washburn: This landing is gonna get pretty interesting.
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: Define "interesting".
Hoban 'Wash' Washburn: [deadpan] Oh God, oh God, we're all going to die?
Another comedic role he is known for is of Steve the pirate in “Dodgeball.”
One role he might not be well-known for is the robot Sonny in the film “I, Robot.” Sure he supplied the voice for the CGI robot, but many people might not know is the filmmakers took a page out of the “Lord of the Rings” playbook and had Tudyk provide the body movements of the character as well. That can’t be an easy job. His performance in the film is one of the reasons I love that film so much... yeah I love a Will Smith movie, sue me.
He took two different routes in playing a serious, dramatic role of a child molester on the television show “CSI.” Watching the episode and his performance makes you forget all about Steve the pirate.
Tudyk has two movies coming out soon. First the comedy “Death at a funeral” which, from the previews, looks to be a good sized role. He is also going to be sharing the screen with Christian Bale and Russell Crowe coming up in the western “3:10 to Yuma,” which is a dramatic turn.
Tudyk is extremely underrated in Hollywood and I really want to see him in more movies. He should be working more than people like Jack Black and Will Ferrell.
A list of his acting work to check out!
Friday, August 3, 2007
The Soundtrack With A Little Dead Humor
A great movie soundtrack not only stics with you after you watch the movie, it reinforces how great the movie was. "Shaun of the Dead" has this and more; listening to the soundtrack reminds you of every hillarious scene. The movie itself, being a lampoon of cheesy zombie movies, has the same style when it comes to the soundtrack.
The first two tracks lace together to give you a nice idea of where this movie takes you. After some opening dialouge taken from the movie, "The Blue Wrath" by I Monster kicks in, with synthesizers and trumpets creating a completely, rediculously undramatic zombie atmosphere. Those who have seen the movie will immediately remember the opening scene where zombies do a choreographed dance (or... well, march) to the song.
Cheesy music aside, there's also some great songs by The Smiths and Queen, most notably "Don't Stop Me Now" by the latter band. It's a nice upbeat song that brings back the image of the cast members beating a local bar owner/zombie with pool sticks before Shaun (Simon Pegg) gets a dart in the side of his head.
Another memorable track is "White Lines (Don't Do It)", made famous in the preview for the movie where Shaun and Ed (Pegg, Nick Frost) sing unwittingly with a zombie (thought to be a drunkard by the two men) in the streets.
The "Shaun of the Dead" soundtrack is laced with wildly absurd-yet-catchy songs and hillarious dialouge.
The first two tracks lace together to give you a nice idea of where this movie takes you. After some opening dialouge taken from the movie, "The Blue Wrath" by I Monster kicks in, with synthesizers and trumpets creating a completely, rediculously undramatic zombie atmosphere. Those who have seen the movie will immediately remember the opening scene where zombies do a choreographed dance (or... well, march) to the song.
Cheesy music aside, there's also some great songs by The Smiths and Queen, most notably "Don't Stop Me Now" by the latter band. It's a nice upbeat song that brings back the image of the cast members beating a local bar owner/zombie with pool sticks before Shaun (Simon Pegg) gets a dart in the side of his head.
Another memorable track is "White Lines (Don't Do It)", made famous in the preview for the movie where Shaun and Ed (Pegg, Nick Frost) sing unwittingly with a zombie (thought to be a drunkard by the two men) in the streets.
The "Shaun of the Dead" soundtrack is laced with wildly absurd-yet-catchy songs and hillarious dialouge.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
The ROCKIN' Sounds of Cinema...
In terms of movie soundtracks, I'm going to have to agree with Mr. Guy's post below this one and say that I prefer a good compilation over a score 9 times out of 10. My particular favorite, however, is a fairly sharp departure from "That Thing You Do!" (as much as I do love that movie and its music)
As a huge rock/metal fan (converted from country), I'm going to have to name "Saw 2" as my favorite soundtrack. With 2004's "The Punisher" a close 2nd, the next year's "Saw 2" is an essential album for any rocker.
The "Saw" films are some of my favorite movies in general (and yes, Tim, I recall your disdain for "torture porn"), and a large part of the reason why is the music behind the films. As soon as the movie faded to black, and Mudvayne's "Forget to Remember" began playing over the end credits of the film, I knew I had to run out and get the soundtrack.
The soundtrack to "Saw 2" is the exact opposite of that of the first movie. That is to say, the "Saw" soundtrack was largely a score album (with amazing work done by Charlie Clouser), with only a couple actual songs thrown in (including Fear Factory's haunting "Bite the Hand That Bleeds), whereas "Saw 2" saw almost all tracks done by existing bands, with only one Clouser composition, a mix of the signature "Saw" theme entitled "Don't Forget the Rules."
"Saw 2" brings together a veritable all-star roster of rockers, including Marilyn Manson, Ministry's Al Jourgensen, Queens of the Stone Age, Sevendust, and Skinny Puppy, along with lesser known (but still unbelievably talented) acts like A Band Called Pain and Bloodsimple to create a compilation disc just as chilling and intense as its namesake.
Tyler's bottom line: See the movie. Buy the CD. The end.
As a huge rock/metal fan (converted from country), I'm going to have to name "Saw 2" as my favorite soundtrack. With 2004's "The Punisher" a close 2nd, the next year's "Saw 2" is an essential album for any rocker.
The "Saw" films are some of my favorite movies in general (and yes, Tim, I recall your disdain for "torture porn"), and a large part of the reason why is the music behind the films. As soon as the movie faded to black, and Mudvayne's "Forget to Remember" began playing over the end credits of the film, I knew I had to run out and get the soundtrack.
The soundtrack to "Saw 2" is the exact opposite of that of the first movie. That is to say, the "Saw" soundtrack was largely a score album (with amazing work done by Charlie Clouser), with only a couple actual songs thrown in (including Fear Factory's haunting "Bite the Hand That Bleeds), whereas "Saw 2" saw almost all tracks done by existing bands, with only one Clouser composition, a mix of the signature "Saw" theme entitled "Don't Forget the Rules."
"Saw 2" brings together a veritable all-star roster of rockers, including Marilyn Manson, Ministry's Al Jourgensen, Queens of the Stone Age, Sevendust, and Skinny Puppy, along with lesser known (but still unbelievably talented) acts like A Band Called Pain and Bloodsimple to create a compilation disc just as chilling and intense as its namesake.
Tyler's bottom line: See the movie. Buy the CD. The end.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
The music that makes a movie
Ah, the movie soundtrack; such a staple of American pop culture. Nowadays the soundtrack of a film is just as important as the film itself. A lot of thinking goes into which tracks are to be included and which artists are going to contribute.
There are basically two types of movie soundtracks; the score (which is just composed music like the “Star Wars” theme) and compilations (many different songs thrown together).
While I adore certain movie scores (is there anything better than John William’s theme for “Superman”?), my favorite movie soundtrack is a compilation. The movie is Tom Hanks’ creation “That thing you do!”
Yeah, I am not joking.
The thing that makes this soundtrack interesting is that all of the songs on the soundtrack are from fictional bands and artists that appeared in the movie, led of course by (the fake band from the film) the Wonders’ hit song “That thing you do!”
The Wonders also “contribute” four other songs on the soundtrack including my favorite “All my only dreams.” But there is also a good amount of different 60s music thrown in as well including surf music (Cap'n Geech And The Shrimp Shack Shooters), jazz (Del Paxton) and female trio (The Chantrellines).
OK, I know the idea of oldies music turns some people off, but the music is good. And if you are one of those people who love oldies, then you will love this soundtrack. I remember buying a copy for my father when it came out and I double-checked and it is still in his car’s stereo. Hanks not only directed the film and put together the soundtrack, but he also co-wrote four of the songs on the soundtrack. The main person behind the music was Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger, who also got nominated for an Academy Award for “Best Original Song” in 1996 for the track “That thing you do!” but lost to Andrew Lloyd Webber for the film “Evita.” I guess if you are going to lose, it’s great to lose to someone like Webber.
You can listen to samples of each song on the soundtrack here:
http://www.amazon.com/That-Thing-You-Do-Soundtrack/dp/B000002BQD/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0139782-9743102?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1185752820&sr=1-1
There are basically two types of movie soundtracks; the score (which is just composed music like the “Star Wars” theme) and compilations (many different songs thrown together).
While I adore certain movie scores (is there anything better than John William’s theme for “Superman”?), my favorite movie soundtrack is a compilation. The movie is Tom Hanks’ creation “That thing you do!”
Yeah, I am not joking.
The thing that makes this soundtrack interesting is that all of the songs on the soundtrack are from fictional bands and artists that appeared in the movie, led of course by (the fake band from the film) the Wonders’ hit song “That thing you do!”
The Wonders also “contribute” four other songs on the soundtrack including my favorite “All my only dreams.” But there is also a good amount of different 60s music thrown in as well including surf music (Cap'n Geech And The Shrimp Shack Shooters), jazz (Del Paxton) and female trio (The Chantrellines).
OK, I know the idea of oldies music turns some people off, but the music is good. And if you are one of those people who love oldies, then you will love this soundtrack. I remember buying a copy for my father when it came out and I double-checked and it is still in his car’s stereo. Hanks not only directed the film and put together the soundtrack, but he also co-wrote four of the songs on the soundtrack. The main person behind the music was Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger, who also got nominated for an Academy Award for “Best Original Song” in 1996 for the track “That thing you do!” but lost to Andrew Lloyd Webber for the film “Evita.” I guess if you are going to lose, it’s great to lose to someone like Webber.
You can listen to samples of each song on the soundtrack here:
http://www.amazon.com/That-Thing-You-Do-Soundtrack/dp/B000002BQD/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0139782-9743102?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1185752820&sr=1-1
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Overrated? Oh yeah!
Finding underrated films is easy. Everyone can tell you a bunch of movies that they love that really didn’t get noticed by the general public.
The same can be said for movies that everyone loved that you believe shouldn’t have tons of attention. For me there are so many, most recently with “Sin City” which I walked out of and demanded my money back (I have a little problem with men smacking around women… and when it happened for like the fourth time that was it.)
But for the purpose of this blog I decided to focus in on two movies that are seriously overrated. I used a simple way of choosing these films; both of these films won an Academy Award for Best Picture and shouldn’t have.
<>It not only beat those films for Best Picture, but won 10 other awards (basically sweeping the night.) I still feel the same way about “Titanic” now as I did almost 10 years ago… “Uh… people liked this movie?” We know it wasn’t the best acted film of the four, “As Good As It Gets” had three acting nominations and two wins. “L.A. Confidential” nabbed Kim Basinger a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. And say what you will about Robin Williams, but no one can argue that he was an acting tour-de-force in “Good Will Hunting,” and won the Best Supporting Actor award.
No, I do not know why “Titanic” made billions of dollars… nor do I care. It was not the best movie of 1997 by any means and therefore is vastly overrated.
<>http://www.bsnews.org/pictures/images/1153466988_movie_mistake_gladiator.jpg
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
The Greek was on fire... literally.
The best 21st birthday present could be alcohol and the zoo. But in this case, it was Canadians and... well, alcohol. The Greek Theatre was the place to be May 29 of this year. The Arcade Fire was due to give one of their signature performances, including megaphones, mandolins, french horns and more surprises.
The best part of the concert was getting there. No, it wasn't just the enormous Transformers ad in downtown Los Angeles. It was no traffic, good food (Baja Fresh is good stuff) and a memorable-yet-brief exchange with a bird that flew overhead... think about it.
The opening band nearly ruined the experience. A chick band called Electrelane bashed through several horrifying "songs." It seems that Arcade Fire took pity on some high school dropouts and gave them 45 minutes to make the Canadian group look that much better. If it wasn't for an ice cold drink and a new wallet, I would've cried. The wallet was just cool enough.
Finally, Arcade Fire saves us from the hell we were in. The lights go out in the canopy-covered arena, and a symphony swells in the darkness. The crowd goes wild as close to ten men and women break into a beautifully synchronized rythym. By the end of the show, frontman Win Butler was throwing light pillars into the audience, his brother was beating on anything he could find and screaming choruses through a megaphone into the night sky. Regine Chassagne stumbled drunk around the stage, playing every instrument she came across for two minutes before getting bored and going to the next.
Amidst the chaos, not a beat was missed. One could say the same of Butler's sense of absurdity. While commenting on how "people down here have to wait for Entertainment Weekly to hear current events," he also mentioned the band's sole promise to the Greek's management.
After explaining how the Greek Theatre nearly burned to the ground, Butler proclaimed that he would not "say anything bad like... BURN THIS MOTHER DOWN!"
All in all, The Arcade Fire took a good day and made it the best concert I've attended. If you ever want a guaranteed good time, grab a copy of Funeral and Neon Bible, and go see the Arcade Fire prepared to sing along to some of the most underrated music of our time.
The best part of the concert was getting there. No, it wasn't just the enormous Transformers ad in downtown Los Angeles. It was no traffic, good food (Baja Fresh is good stuff) and a memorable-yet-brief exchange with a bird that flew overhead... think about it.
The opening band nearly ruined the experience. A chick band called Electrelane bashed through several horrifying "songs." It seems that Arcade Fire took pity on some high school dropouts and gave them 45 minutes to make the Canadian group look that much better. If it wasn't for an ice cold drink and a new wallet, I would've cried. The wallet was just cool enough.
Finally, Arcade Fire saves us from the hell we were in. The lights go out in the canopy-covered arena, and a symphony swells in the darkness. The crowd goes wild as close to ten men and women break into a beautifully synchronized rythym. By the end of the show, frontman Win Butler was throwing light pillars into the audience, his brother was beating on anything he could find and screaming choruses through a megaphone into the night sky. Regine Chassagne stumbled drunk around the stage, playing every instrument she came across for two minutes before getting bored and going to the next.
Amidst the chaos, not a beat was missed. One could say the same of Butler's sense of absurdity. While commenting on how "people down here have to wait for Entertainment Weekly to hear current events," he also mentioned the band's sole promise to the Greek's management.
After explaining how the Greek Theatre nearly burned to the ground, Butler proclaimed that he would not "say anything bad like... BURN THIS MOTHER DOWN!"
All in all, The Arcade Fire took a good day and made it the best concert I've attended. If you ever want a guaranteed good time, grab a copy of Funeral and Neon Bible, and go see the Arcade Fire prepared to sing along to some of the most underrated music of our time.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Best concert ever?
A fake New York City, two pianos and a bunch of drunken people.
What sounds like a really horrible date, ended up being one of my favorite concerts of all time. Sure I have been to a few real concerts. I saw the Gin Blossoms and R.E.M. (great show) in Devore and Weezer and Dashboard Confessional in Irvine (Weezer was beyond great). But this experience was just... different.
Back in April I took a long needed vacation to Las Vegas and I was looking for something to do (I don’t gamble and can’t afford to see a show there... $100 for Blue Man Group? I think not.). I had heard about this place at the New York New York Hotel that was supposed to be pretty cool and free. They call it the “Dueling Pianos.”
Yeah, I didn’t out too much faith into it either. As I was walking in the direction of the bar the concert was located I heard the opening bars of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on me” and it sounded just off the CD quality. As I get closer I realize that the music is not coming from a CD player, rather just two pianos.
That’s right. Two guys playing two pianos were playing (and singing) “Pour Some Sugar on me” almost perfectly. The bar was packed with tons of people singing along. The great thing about the bar was that it was an open air one, so even standing outside of it you can hear and see everything just as you could inside.
I sat town at a table right outside and there I stayed for almost two hours. These two piano players would take ANY request, no matter how odd. They even played the Norte Dame Football fight song.
My personal favorite was the almost dead on version of Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer,” which had every person within a 50 foot radius singing along.
Most great concerts are a one time thing. This one can be seen all the time in Vegas.
What sounds like a really horrible date, ended up being one of my favorite concerts of all time. Sure I have been to a few real concerts. I saw the Gin Blossoms and R.E.M. (great show) in Devore and Weezer and Dashboard Confessional in Irvine (Weezer was beyond great). But this experience was just... different.
Back in April I took a long needed vacation to Las Vegas and I was looking for something to do (I don’t gamble and can’t afford to see a show there... $100 for Blue Man Group? I think not.). I had heard about this place at the New York New York Hotel that was supposed to be pretty cool and free. They call it the “Dueling Pianos.”
Yeah, I didn’t out too much faith into it either. As I was walking in the direction of the bar the concert was located I heard the opening bars of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on me” and it sounded just off the CD quality. As I get closer I realize that the music is not coming from a CD player, rather just two pianos.
That’s right. Two guys playing two pianos were playing (and singing) “Pour Some Sugar on me” almost perfectly. The bar was packed with tons of people singing along. The great thing about the bar was that it was an open air one, so even standing outside of it you can hear and see everything just as you could inside.
I sat town at a table right outside and there I stayed for almost two hours. These two piano players would take ANY request, no matter how odd. They even played the Norte Dame Football fight song.
My personal favorite was the almost dead on version of Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer,” which had every person within a 50 foot radius singing along.
Most great concerts are a one time thing. This one can be seen all the time in Vegas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)