So, I should just say this right off the bat: this is a Canadian show. Ooohhh Canadaaaa!!!!
In A Nutshell: So, Continuum is a brand new show that premiered last night on the Canadian cable channel Showcase (Canada's equivalent of AMC). So, in the year 2077, a terrorist group called Liber8 is to be put to death for mass murder. During the execution, they use a device to escape by traveling back in time to 2012 Vancouver. The catch? They accidently bring a cop, Kiera Cameron, back with them. Kiera ends up finding Alec, a teenage computer genius who has invented tech her communicator happens to work on, and from there he helps her out. Kiera also ends up chasing the terrorists by joining up with the Vancouver PD, claiming to be on loan from the Portland PD. From there an all out war ensues.
The Good: The premise here is pretty awesome, coupled with some cool futuristic mythos that make the show interesting and compelling. There is an abundance of action, and Kiera IS one of the badass female of science fiction, and lets face it, we can always use one more of those. Alec is an interesting character as well, and the Liber8 group has the kind of villains I hope for in a show like this. Plus, this has huge potential for serialization. Heck, Continuum could turn me on to a whole new brand of TV: Canadian cable.
The Bad: Not much, don't worry. Really, my only beefs were A., the episode was only 43 minutes (I was hoping for one of those 80 minute pilots) and B., I felt that Alec accepted that Kiera was from the future a bit too easily, but he kind of had to for the story to work, so I wasn't all that put off by it.
So, I'd say I'm onboard with this show. Continuum is on at 9 PM, Sunday night on Showcase, which means if you're in America like me and don't get Canadian channels, you have to watch it on TV Links.
Final Rating: 90%
Monday, May 28, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Falling Skies Season 1 Review
So, with season two just around the corner, I just finished playing catch up on season 1. Between this, Warehouse 13, and Continuum, I'll be reviewing three shows this summer. But for now it's review time. The season aired last summer on TNT and was comprised of ten episodes
In A Nutshell: Falling Skies takes place in a world after a devastating unprovoked alien invasion. The aliens, dubbed "Skitters" as well as their robotic drones called "Mechs" disabled all electronics and mowed down 90% of the human population in a few days. Six months later, they're occupying the Earth and trying to wipe out the remaining humans. The story focuses on the 2nd Massachusetts infantry, specifically 2nd in command Tom Mason (Noah Wyle, Donnie Darko), as they wage a war for freedom on the invaders. Think Independence Day in TV show form. Tom deals with his duties both as a leader and a father of three boys, one of whom is eight, another of whom is in the resistance with him, and the last of whom, Ben, being one of the kids who were kidnapped by the Skitters and used for slave labor by attaching biomechanical harnesses to they're backs that control them.
The Good: There's plenty to like from this show. There are tons of great action scenes that never fall short, and the story is paced just right. We also have some dramatic elements, mostly in the Mason clan brought on by Ben's kidnapping and the death of Tom's wife. To top it off, they use a serialized format (hooray!) and multiple mysteries, plus the occasional twist, as plot devices. Let me say this about the mysteries: there are a bunch going on at once, and they are what kept me hooked. I can't say what they are because that would be spoilers, save for the obvious one of why the aliens came in the first place, but they are compelling, and I'm hoping the plot will thicken even more in season two. Some people who haven't seen might call it a Walking Dead ripoff, but that's not true at all, because the tone is very different: in TWD, it's all just about not dying and trying to find a place where the Walkers won't get you, but in FS, it's more about wanting live and having to fight to do so. Overall, if you're a fan of sci fi, action, or just a good mystery-serial, you won't be let down. Plus, cliffhangers season ending! Woo!
The Bad: Is this the greatest sci fi show or alien invasion thing ever? No, I wouldn't say that just because it isn't, and I don't know how else to say that. It was a bit sappy once or twice, but it wasn't that bad. The CGI is a sort of corny from time to time to, and some of the characters could use a bit more development, but beyond that the season was a good time.
I won't be doing a noteworthy episodes part because a., there were only ten episodes, and b., like I said before, with serials, it all just kind of meshes together in my mind.
Final Rating: 89%
In A Nutshell: Falling Skies takes place in a world after a devastating unprovoked alien invasion. The aliens, dubbed "Skitters" as well as their robotic drones called "Mechs" disabled all electronics and mowed down 90% of the human population in a few days. Six months later, they're occupying the Earth and trying to wipe out the remaining humans. The story focuses on the 2nd Massachusetts infantry, specifically 2nd in command Tom Mason (Noah Wyle, Donnie Darko), as they wage a war for freedom on the invaders. Think Independence Day in TV show form. Tom deals with his duties both as a leader and a father of three boys, one of whom is eight, another of whom is in the resistance with him, and the last of whom, Ben, being one of the kids who were kidnapped by the Skitters and used for slave labor by attaching biomechanical harnesses to they're backs that control them.
The Good: There's plenty to like from this show. There are tons of great action scenes that never fall short, and the story is paced just right. We also have some dramatic elements, mostly in the Mason clan brought on by Ben's kidnapping and the death of Tom's wife. To top it off, they use a serialized format (hooray!) and multiple mysteries, plus the occasional twist, as plot devices. Let me say this about the mysteries: there are a bunch going on at once, and they are what kept me hooked. I can't say what they are because that would be spoilers, save for the obvious one of why the aliens came in the first place, but they are compelling, and I'm hoping the plot will thicken even more in season two. Some people who haven't seen might call it a Walking Dead ripoff, but that's not true at all, because the tone is very different: in TWD, it's all just about not dying and trying to find a place where the Walkers won't get you, but in FS, it's more about wanting live and having to fight to do so. Overall, if you're a fan of sci fi, action, or just a good mystery-serial, you won't be let down. Plus, cliffhangers season ending! Woo!
The Bad: Is this the greatest sci fi show or alien invasion thing ever? No, I wouldn't say that just because it isn't, and I don't know how else to say that. It was a bit sappy once or twice, but it wasn't that bad. The CGI is a sort of corny from time to time to, and some of the characters could use a bit more development, but beyond that the season was a good time.
I won't be doing a noteworthy episodes part because a., there were only ten episodes, and b., like I said before, with serials, it all just kind of meshes together in my mind.
Final Rating: 89%
Saturday, May 26, 2012
The Top 5 Best Bad Movies of All Time
You might be looking at this title and scratching your head a bit, thinking "wait, what is this right now?" I should explain the criteria for this list: to be here, it has a be a bad movie that I find myself watching all the way through. Therefore, no movies that straight up suck, and no movies that are actually good either. Let's get started.
5. Ghost Rider
Coming in at fifth place is Ghost Rider, Nicholas Cage's attempt at an action movie based on the Marvel Comic of the same name. He plays Johnny Blaze, a stunt rider who sells his soul to the Devil to save his dad's life. But then his dad dies anyway. Ten years and some hair loss later, Satan returns and curses Johnny, forcing him to transform into the fiery-skulled, motorcycle riding antihero dubbed the Rider every night. The Rider then collects the souls of the wicked. This plays hell on Johnny's personal life, and to make matters worse, a few demons show up in town wanting to destroy the Rider for reasons that are never given.
So why is it on this list?
To be honest, this is bordering on being a pile of straight up suck. It is one of the worst Nick Cage movies of all time (and that's saying something) with Cage doing a really bad southern accent coupled with a corny, predictable plot that happens to have a few kinda-okay action scenes. So why would I, or anyone, that matter, watch this all the through? To be honest, I don't know. When I watched it for the first time, I didn't like it, and I couldn't change the channel (it was on FX) for some reason. Go figure. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about.
4. Major League
You probably hate me right now for putting this here. But I don't get the same kick out of this other people do. So, Charlie Sheen (before he went around saying he was a warlock) and his ragtag team of wannabe baseball players try bring the Cleveland Indians out of an absurdly long slump, while dealing with an owner who wants them to loose so she can move the team to Florida.
Why is it on the list?
It's weird; I laughed maybe twice in this entire movie, and I watched until the credits rolled. Maybe it was Willy Mays Haze doing push ups while at bat (one of the scenes I laughed at). Maybe it was the novelty of seeing Charlie Sheen before he went of the deep end. Once again, go figure.
3. The Green Hornet
Seth Rogen plays a billionaire playboy by day and a masked vigilante with a car and a manservant who is much smarter then him by night in this comic book adaptation. Rogen then proceeds to wage a war on crime by posing as villains but actually being hero.
Why?
This is applicable to just about any Seth Rogen movie, but I just choose this one. It's kind of like if someone tried to make a serious movie and then halfway through they realized that they were really making a dumbed-down parody of the Dark Knight and cast Rogen as a result. I actually did laugh pretty hard a few times, and Kato was kind of awesome, but at the same time, I realize that this movie is incredibly stupid and just bad all the way. In a way, this list was created a few years ago when I walked out of theater after watching this and said "that was really bad... but I liked it..."
2. Top Gun
And then there's this movie. Tom Cruise (you know, before we all hated him) plays a maverick Navy pilot whose call sign is... Maverick. He and his buddy/copilot Goose go through an elite training program to learn the art of dog fighting. They deal with a rival in Iceman as Maverick romances his instructor.
Why?
Here's why: THE ENTIRE MOVIE IS A LESSON IN HOW NOT TO PICK UP A GIRL! Seriously, the movie really is just a combination of dog fights, weird-ass make outs, and poorly planned pick up lines that would probably get you sued for sexual harassment. And it was REALLY cheesy. And yet, somewhere in all that is where I found enjoyment. I think it was mostly the cool dog fights and the whole "Goodness Gracious! Great balls of fire!" thing. Whatever it was, I was entertained while I, at the same time, acknowledged the fact this wasn't a very good movie.
1. Napoleon Dynamite
It could only by Napoleon right here. The story of a rural high school geek who tries to get his equally odd friend Pedro elected class president. Along the way, they build a time machine, talk about Ligers, and do some stuff with Bo staffs.
Why?
You ever get that feeling where you laugh at something and then hate yourself right afterwards for whatever reason? Yeah, that's what happens when you watch this movie. It's hard to explain, really; to be honest, you really can only understand what I'm talking about if you've seen it. But, for whatever reason, I laughed and hated on this movie at the same time when I watched it, and that's what makes Napoleon Dynamite the greatest terrible movie of all time.
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5. Ghost Rider
Coming in at fifth place is Ghost Rider, Nicholas Cage's attempt at an action movie based on the Marvel Comic of the same name. He plays Johnny Blaze, a stunt rider who sells his soul to the Devil to save his dad's life. But then his dad dies anyway. Ten years and some hair loss later, Satan returns and curses Johnny, forcing him to transform into the fiery-skulled, motorcycle riding antihero dubbed the Rider every night. The Rider then collects the souls of the wicked. This plays hell on Johnny's personal life, and to make matters worse, a few demons show up in town wanting to destroy the Rider for reasons that are never given.
So why is it on this list?
To be honest, this is bordering on being a pile of straight up suck. It is one of the worst Nick Cage movies of all time (and that's saying something) with Cage doing a really bad southern accent coupled with a corny, predictable plot that happens to have a few kinda-okay action scenes. So why would I, or anyone, that matter, watch this all the through? To be honest, I don't know. When I watched it for the first time, I didn't like it, and I couldn't change the channel (it was on FX) for some reason. Go figure. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about.
You probably hate me right now for putting this here. But I don't get the same kick out of this other people do. So, Charlie Sheen (before he went around saying he was a warlock) and his ragtag team of wannabe baseball players try bring the Cleveland Indians out of an absurdly long slump, while dealing with an owner who wants them to loose so she can move the team to Florida.
Why is it on the list?
It's weird; I laughed maybe twice in this entire movie, and I watched until the credits rolled. Maybe it was Willy Mays Haze doing push ups while at bat (one of the scenes I laughed at). Maybe it was the novelty of seeing Charlie Sheen before he went of the deep end. Once again, go figure.
3. The Green Hornet
Seth Rogen plays a billionaire playboy by day and a masked vigilante with a car and a manservant who is much smarter then him by night in this comic book adaptation. Rogen then proceeds to wage a war on crime by posing as villains but actually being hero.
Why?
This is applicable to just about any Seth Rogen movie, but I just choose this one. It's kind of like if someone tried to make a serious movie and then halfway through they realized that they were really making a dumbed-down parody of the Dark Knight and cast Rogen as a result. I actually did laugh pretty hard a few times, and Kato was kind of awesome, but at the same time, I realize that this movie is incredibly stupid and just bad all the way. In a way, this list was created a few years ago when I walked out of theater after watching this and said "that was really bad... but I liked it..."
2. Top Gun
And then there's this movie. Tom Cruise (you know, before we all hated him) plays a maverick Navy pilot whose call sign is... Maverick. He and his buddy/copilot Goose go through an elite training program to learn the art of dog fighting. They deal with a rival in Iceman as Maverick romances his instructor.
Why?
Here's why: THE ENTIRE MOVIE IS A LESSON IN HOW NOT TO PICK UP A GIRL! Seriously, the movie really is just a combination of dog fights, weird-ass make outs, and poorly planned pick up lines that would probably get you sued for sexual harassment. And it was REALLY cheesy. And yet, somewhere in all that is where I found enjoyment. I think it was mostly the cool dog fights and the whole "Goodness Gracious! Great balls of fire!" thing. Whatever it was, I was entertained while I, at the same time, acknowledged the fact this wasn't a very good movie.
1. Napoleon Dynamite
It could only by Napoleon right here. The story of a rural high school geek who tries to get his equally odd friend Pedro elected class president. Along the way, they build a time machine, talk about Ligers, and do some stuff with Bo staffs.
Why?
You ever get that feeling where you laugh at something and then hate yourself right afterwards for whatever reason? Yeah, that's what happens when you watch this movie. It's hard to explain, really; to be honest, you really can only understand what I'm talking about if you've seen it. But, for whatever reason, I laughed and hated on this movie at the same time when I watched it, and that's what makes Napoleon Dynamite the greatest terrible movie of all time.
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The 10 Commandments Of On Screen Reviews
So, if you've read any of my other posts, you may have gathered a few recurring themes in my reviews, lists, and rants. If you're wondering just how many of these recurring themes there are and what they are, I've compiled a list: the 10 Commandments of On Screen Reviews. And if this is the first of my posts you've ever read, then maybe this will tell you whether or not you'll like my little blog here.
1. Joss is Boss.
Once again, you've worked this much out if you've read my other posts. From Buffy to Angel to Firefly to Dollhouse to Doctor Horrible to the Avengers, Joss Whedon is a genius. One of the greatest screenwriters and directors of our time, Whedon has had the biggest affect on me as a writer, created some of my favorite shows of all time, is just flat out awesome, and his career seems to have yet to peak. Always remember, children, Joss is Boss
2. If Joss is boss, JJ is assistant manager.
JJ Abrams, the man who has brought us Lost, Fringe, and Alias, along with his upcoming show Revolution and phenomenal feature films Super 8, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible 3, and Cloverfield, is a genius. Arguably the master of serialized storytelling and a man who knows how to direct the crap out of an action scene, JJ Abrams is, in my book, second banana only to Mr. Whedon.
3. Serial>Procedural.
You may have worked this out from my Abrams-praising, but I love me a good serial drama. I'm a sucker for a good plot twist or cliffhanger, and I find a show that keeps you guessing much more compelling then one that resolves everything in 45 minutes and then resets itself for the next episode (i.e. cop shows) Some of my favorite serials include The Walking Dead, Doctor Who, Buffy, Angel, Falling Skies, and the X Files, and I'm working through serial heavy-weights Lost, Smallville, and Battlestar Galactica right now.
4. Do not judge a TV show or film you have never actually seen.
It's pretty self-explanatory, really.
5. Michael Bay=Fail.
Two words: Transformers two. A few more words: Transformers 1 and 3, plus Pearl Harbor. Those were hours of my life that I'll never get back, and they were the result of a man who represents what is wrong with movies today.
6. MTV=Fail.
Do I actually need to explain this?
7. The BBC is awesome.
Between Doctor Who and Sherlock (two of my favorite shows), what's not to like?
8. AMC=Greatest cable channel.
They play some of my favorite movies and have one of my favorite shows in The Walking Dead, plus they have an upcoming show titled 99 Stories that sounds very intriguing. Basically, AMC rules!
9. I am not a movie-snob.
I'm not the type of critic who goes around saying movies haven't been good since 1939, 1979, or whatever. The bottom line, I tend to enjoy most movies I see. Some more then others, but I'm not some prick who has unreasonably high standards. Sure, I hate Michael Bay movies, and I think horror movies have gone down the tubes in the last decade, but the bottom line is I try to look for something I like in a movie I'm watching, which leads to me liking a lot of movies.
10. A show that goes past seven seasons runs the risk of jumping the shark.
It happened to the X Files. It happened to The Office. It happened to That 70s Show. After season seven, a show will often fall apart do to the loss of a major cast member or the writers simply running out of ideas. With the ones above, it was both! There are exceptions to the rule, sure, but those are just that: exceptions, not standards.
So, those are my blog's 10 commandments. Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comment section.
Be sure to comment, subscribe, check out my other posts, all that good stuff!
1. Joss is Boss.
Once again, you've worked this much out if you've read my other posts. From Buffy to Angel to Firefly to Dollhouse to Doctor Horrible to the Avengers, Joss Whedon is a genius. One of the greatest screenwriters and directors of our time, Whedon has had the biggest affect on me as a writer, created some of my favorite shows of all time, is just flat out awesome, and his career seems to have yet to peak. Always remember, children, Joss is Boss
2. If Joss is boss, JJ is assistant manager.
JJ Abrams, the man who has brought us Lost, Fringe, and Alias, along with his upcoming show Revolution and phenomenal feature films Super 8, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible 3, and Cloverfield, is a genius. Arguably the master of serialized storytelling and a man who knows how to direct the crap out of an action scene, JJ Abrams is, in my book, second banana only to Mr. Whedon.
3. Serial>Procedural.
You may have worked this out from my Abrams-praising, but I love me a good serial drama. I'm a sucker for a good plot twist or cliffhanger, and I find a show that keeps you guessing much more compelling then one that resolves everything in 45 minutes and then resets itself for the next episode (i.e. cop shows) Some of my favorite serials include The Walking Dead, Doctor Who, Buffy, Angel, Falling Skies, and the X Files, and I'm working through serial heavy-weights Lost, Smallville, and Battlestar Galactica right now.
4. Do not judge a TV show or film you have never actually seen.
It's pretty self-explanatory, really.
5. Michael Bay=Fail.
Two words: Transformers two. A few more words: Transformers 1 and 3, plus Pearl Harbor. Those were hours of my life that I'll never get back, and they were the result of a man who represents what is wrong with movies today.
6. MTV=Fail.
Do I actually need to explain this?
7. The BBC is awesome.
Between Doctor Who and Sherlock (two of my favorite shows), what's not to like?
8. AMC=Greatest cable channel.
They play some of my favorite movies and have one of my favorite shows in The Walking Dead, plus they have an upcoming show titled 99 Stories that sounds very intriguing. Basically, AMC rules!
9. I am not a movie-snob.
I'm not the type of critic who goes around saying movies haven't been good since 1939, 1979, or whatever. The bottom line, I tend to enjoy most movies I see. Some more then others, but I'm not some prick who has unreasonably high standards. Sure, I hate Michael Bay movies, and I think horror movies have gone down the tubes in the last decade, but the bottom line is I try to look for something I like in a movie I'm watching, which leads to me liking a lot of movies.
10. A show that goes past seven seasons runs the risk of jumping the shark.
It happened to the X Files. It happened to The Office. It happened to That 70s Show. After season seven, a show will often fall apart do to the loss of a major cast member or the writers simply running out of ideas. With the ones above, it was both! There are exceptions to the rule, sure, but those are just that: exceptions, not standards.
So, those are my blog's 10 commandments. Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comment section.
Be sure to comment, subscribe, check out my other posts, all that good stuff!
New Fall Shows Promos
Ordinarily I would do all of these individually, but do to my lack of patience I've decided to review the new fall TV show trailers I'm interested in but haven't already reviewed all at once right now.
And before you read this and say: "Why isn't blank on here?!" here is a list of shows whose trailers I've already reviewed and I intend to at least watch the pilot episode:
Revolution
Arrow
Elementary (I reviewed it and intend to watch the pilot and hate it because it's a ripoff!)
So here are a few upcoming dramas to be released this fall that I think could be pretty good based on the trailers. Note: These are only for network TV shows. I'm not anti-cable, far from it, really, but basic cable has yet to release any schedules or trailers.
CBS:
Nothing. Just nothing. Nothing new of theirs looks good. I don't like cop shows, sue me. I do plan on watching and reviewing season 2 of Person of Interest so long as I can get caught up by then, and who doesn't love The Big Bang Theory, but beyond those, nothing sounds terribly appealing.
FOX:
I've probably mentioned my undying hatred of FOX, or FOX news, before while ranting. At the very least, I've bagged on them while talking about Joss Whedon. But they make shows that at least look good in trailers. Have some of them been fails? Sure (Terra Nova, Alcatraz) But one does look pretty good:
The Following:
It basically centers around a former FBI agent (Kevin Bacon) who comes out of retirement when a serial killer he put away almost ten years ago resurfaces, along with an apparent cult of serial killers. The trailer implies potential for serialized storytelling (Woo!) and it seems to check out with quite a few good things: action, overarching mystery, charismatic villain, and a dark tone. My main hesitation is that in the past, FOX + dark serial drama=cancelled in less then two seasons. (You guys remember Dollhouse and Terminator Sarah Connor Chronicles, right?) It doesn't air until midseason, most likely not until January, so I can't even say for sure it won't be on Fridays. But who knows? Maybe FOX will finally decide to stop being jerks. Okay, probably not, but this still looks good.
And before you read this and say: "Why isn't blank on here?!" here is a list of shows whose trailers I've already reviewed and I intend to at least watch the pilot episode:
Revolution
Arrow
Elementary (I reviewed it and intend to watch the pilot and hate it because it's a ripoff!)
So here are a few upcoming dramas to be released this fall that I think could be pretty good based on the trailers. Note: These are only for network TV shows. I'm not anti-cable, far from it, really, but basic cable has yet to release any schedules or trailers.
CBS:
Nothing. Just nothing. Nothing new of theirs looks good. I don't like cop shows, sue me. I do plan on watching and reviewing season 2 of Person of Interest so long as I can get caught up by then, and who doesn't love The Big Bang Theory, but beyond those, nothing sounds terribly appealing.
FOX:
I've probably mentioned my undying hatred of FOX, or FOX news, before while ranting. At the very least, I've bagged on them while talking about Joss Whedon. But they make shows that at least look good in trailers. Have some of them been fails? Sure (Terra Nova, Alcatraz) But one does look pretty good:
The Following:
It basically centers around a former FBI agent (Kevin Bacon) who comes out of retirement when a serial killer he put away almost ten years ago resurfaces, along with an apparent cult of serial killers. The trailer implies potential for serialized storytelling (Woo!) and it seems to check out with quite a few good things: action, overarching mystery, charismatic villain, and a dark tone. My main hesitation is that in the past, FOX + dark serial drama=cancelled in less then two seasons. (You guys remember Dollhouse and Terminator Sarah Connor Chronicles, right?) It doesn't air until midseason, most likely not until January, so I can't even say for sure it won't be on Fridays. But who knows? Maybe FOX will finally decide to stop being jerks. Okay, probably not, but this still looks good.
ABC:
I know I've bagged on ABC in the past for doing too much generic stuff (aside from Lost, that's kind of all they do) but they are cranking out a few new dramas that look interesting, even though the trailers seem to be evidence of ABC's love affair with voiceovers (DAMMIT!)
Last Resort:
Military drama/political thriller involving powerful nuclear submarine the USS Colorado that is ordered to fire on Pakistan until nothing is left. When they refuse to do so until receiving confirmation of orders, another ship fires on them. Crippled, the Colorado retreats, only to find that the US government has branded them terrorists. The Colorado lands on a small tropical island, which the captain takes control of and declares the world's smallest nuclear nation. As the crew settles into they're new home, they begin playing a dangerous game with the US government. Sounds like a potentially very cool action drama. Is there a serial somewhere in here? Certainly seems like it, and ABC usually is a serial-friendly network. I like the premise, and an actioner and political thriller could fit right on the 8 PM Thursday night time slot the show's been assigned.
Zero Hour:
If this doesn't have serial written all over it, I don't know what does. So, the editor of a paranormal magazine's wife is kidnapped by a strange group of people who want a clock that the man has. The catch: the clock is part of a series of clocks that are connected to a major world conspiracy. From there, a hunt ensues with the man teaming up with both friends and the FBI to find his wife and unravel the mystery. I can't give you a time slot as this is a midseason replacement, but I can say I'll give this a look. Overarching, compelling mystery? Check. Paranormal elements? Check. And while this does seem suspiciously like the Da Vinci Code in TV show form, I'll give it a shot.
That's it for me. I've got these three shows, two of the ones mentioned above, and a few returners on the docket this coming season, and anything else that comes out midseason or on cable and I just haven't heard about yet. It might sound like I have a lot on my plate, but keep in mind, I tried seven new shows last year, and I only ended up liking two of them. So yes, there's every possibility that all of these will suck, but I think I'll end up liking at least one of them.
Let it be noted that I will probably repost this with all the new shows I'm interested in sometime in August, along with a post for returning shows.
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Friday, May 25, 2012
Movie Reviewed: Men In Black 3
Josh Brolin is.... Tommy Lee Jones in Men In Black cubed!
In A Nutshell: So, MIB to the third power sees the Agents J and K in a rut of sorts with K being all emotionless as the two of them kill aliens over and over again. And then an alien busts out of space jail, goes back in time, and kills K, forcing J to go back in time to to save his partner. So when are they? July 1969, a few days before the rocket to the moon launches, conveniently enough. Along the way, they meet Andy Warhol, a few racist cops, and an alien who sees every potential version of the future.
The Good: So, after ten years, they are back in black! Let me start off by saying that I'm a fan of the franchise, I loved the first one, and, yes, I'm one of the ten people in the world who liked the second one. The movie delivered what I was hoping for by way of MIB's unique brand of hilarious controlled chaos. It absolutely had genuinely funny scenes, most of which involved either Will Smith being Will Smith for what feels like the first time since Hancock, or Josh Brolin doing a spot on Tommy Lee Jones impersonation (seriously, the only thing the guy was missing was the whole craggy faced bloodhound look that made Jones such a good US Marshal.) Plus, explosions, a zippy plot that rattles along at a nice little pace, and the show gets stolen by future-seeing alien dude.
The Bad: There's no Frank! Okay, there was a two second snippit of an ad for him on Coney Island, but he basically wasn't in this movie. So, I'll be honest, this didn't quite do it for me the same way the first one did, probably because it was shorter and some of the jokes were a bit recycled.
Am I onboard with this movie? Yes. Is it worth your time and money? Yes and yes. Is it the best entry in the franchise? No, I'm afraid not. Should there be a MIB 4? Only if they cast Will Smith's twelve year old son Jaden (The kid from the Karate Kid remake.) THAT would be funny.
Final Rating: 84%
Be sure to comment, subscribe, check out my other posts, all that good stuff!
In A Nutshell: So, MIB to the third power sees the Agents J and K in a rut of sorts with K being all emotionless as the two of them kill aliens over and over again. And then an alien busts out of space jail, goes back in time, and kills K, forcing J to go back in time to to save his partner. So when are they? July 1969, a few days before the rocket to the moon launches, conveniently enough. Along the way, they meet Andy Warhol, a few racist cops, and an alien who sees every potential version of the future.
The Good: So, after ten years, they are back in black! Let me start off by saying that I'm a fan of the franchise, I loved the first one, and, yes, I'm one of the ten people in the world who liked the second one. The movie delivered what I was hoping for by way of MIB's unique brand of hilarious controlled chaos. It absolutely had genuinely funny scenes, most of which involved either Will Smith being Will Smith for what feels like the first time since Hancock, or Josh Brolin doing a spot on Tommy Lee Jones impersonation (seriously, the only thing the guy was missing was the whole craggy faced bloodhound look that made Jones such a good US Marshal.) Plus, explosions, a zippy plot that rattles along at a nice little pace, and the show gets stolen by future-seeing alien dude.
The Bad: There's no Frank! Okay, there was a two second snippit of an ad for him on Coney Island, but he basically wasn't in this movie. So, I'll be honest, this didn't quite do it for me the same way the first one did, probably because it was shorter and some of the jokes were a bit recycled.
Am I onboard with this movie? Yes. Is it worth your time and money? Yes and yes. Is it the best entry in the franchise? No, I'm afraid not. Should there be a MIB 4? Only if they cast Will Smith's twelve year old son Jaden (The kid from the Karate Kid remake.) THAT would be funny.
Final Rating: 84%
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Skyfall 1st Trailer Review
New Bond movie!!!! Wooooo!!!!!!!
New James Bond movie called Skyfall comes out this year, and the trailer has hit the web! So, it starts off with Bond in some kind of word association therapy thing, and when it gets to the word Skyfall, well, watch the trailer and you'll see. Then a series of huge-ass action sequences ensue, which is awesome. That's it really, it gives like none of the plot.
The Good: It's Bond! What's not to like?! Plus, the action scenes are awesome.
The Bad: Like I said, it gives none of the plot away, which is sort of annoying.
Will I see this? Yes. Should you? Yes. Is there a chance it'll be a generic spy thriller? Sadly, yes, but hopefully it'll do something different.
I'm sorry this post is so short, but seriously, there is like nothing to talk about with this trailer because so little plot is given away. Hopefully the second trailer, whenever it gets released, will lead to a longer post.
Comment, subscribe, check out my other posts, all that good stuff!
New James Bond movie called Skyfall comes out this year, and the trailer has hit the web! So, it starts off with Bond in some kind of word association therapy thing, and when it gets to the word Skyfall, well, watch the trailer and you'll see. Then a series of huge-ass action sequences ensue, which is awesome. That's it really, it gives like none of the plot.
The Good: It's Bond! What's not to like?! Plus, the action scenes are awesome.
The Bad: Like I said, it gives none of the plot away, which is sort of annoying.
Will I see this? Yes. Should you? Yes. Is there a chance it'll be a generic spy thriller? Sadly, yes, but hopefully it'll do something different.
I'm sorry this post is so short, but seriously, there is like nothing to talk about with this trailer because so little plot is given away. Hopefully the second trailer, whenever it gets released, will lead to a longer post.
Comment, subscribe, check out my other posts, all that good stuff!
Elementary Trailer
Were it not for "Person of Interest" and 'The Big Bang Theory", this trailer and this show in general would be making me change my official motto to "CBS=FAIL!" Then again, my motto right now is "ABC=FAIL!" so it wouldn't be much of change.
So, Elementary is CBS attempting to do a ripoff of the hit BBC drama Sherlock. It's a TV show and modern rendition of Sherlock Holmes, with the stories being told in modern day New York City. Sound familiar? The only legit difference between this and Sherlock is Sherlock is set in modern London, and Elementary has elected to make Watson a girl, played by Lucy Liu. It shows some clips from the show itself, but mostly just does little interviews with the cast and crew, a TV show trailer format I've always found annoying.
The Good: They cast Johnny Lee Miller as Holmes, and he is a good actor, but like Shia Laboeuf, his talents will go wasted as a result of being handed crappy script after crappy script.
The Bad: Where do I start? First off, THIS IS A RIPOFF!!!!!!! Of one of my favorite shows, too! Plus the writers have this little smug look on their faces during the interviews like they've gone and done something brilliantly original, even though it's been done by a man named Steven Moffat. On top of that, the trailer uses a format that, as I previously mentioned, I bear a mild contempt for. Sherlock himself also seems kind of out of character from the books, which makes me suspect that this won't be Holmes-esque in any way save the names of the characters. As far as Watson being a girl goes, I'm not upset about that itself because I'm not a sexist, but they did cast the girl from Charlie's Angels, so I'm not exactly happy. It also pretty much guarantees that eventually Holmes and Watson will get together romantically. It's not a matter of if but when. And for crying out loud, who goes to New York for rehab!
My plan is to watch the pilot, write an absurdly negative review, and hope it's gets cancelled.
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So, Elementary is CBS attempting to do a ripoff of the hit BBC drama Sherlock. It's a TV show and modern rendition of Sherlock Holmes, with the stories being told in modern day New York City. Sound familiar? The only legit difference between this and Sherlock is Sherlock is set in modern London, and Elementary has elected to make Watson a girl, played by Lucy Liu. It shows some clips from the show itself, but mostly just does little interviews with the cast and crew, a TV show trailer format I've always found annoying.
The Good: They cast Johnny Lee Miller as Holmes, and he is a good actor, but like Shia Laboeuf, his talents will go wasted as a result of being handed crappy script after crappy script.
The Bad: Where do I start? First off, THIS IS A RIPOFF!!!!!!! Of one of my favorite shows, too! Plus the writers have this little smug look on their faces during the interviews like they've gone and done something brilliantly original, even though it's been done by a man named Steven Moffat. On top of that, the trailer uses a format that, as I previously mentioned, I bear a mild contempt for. Sherlock himself also seems kind of out of character from the books, which makes me suspect that this won't be Holmes-esque in any way save the names of the characters. As far as Watson being a girl goes, I'm not upset about that itself because I'm not a sexist, but they did cast the girl from Charlie's Angels, so I'm not exactly happy. It also pretty much guarantees that eventually Holmes and Watson will get together romantically. It's not a matter of if but when. And for crying out loud, who goes to New York for rehab!
My plan is to watch the pilot, write an absurdly negative review, and hope it's gets cancelled.
Comment, subscribe, check out my other posts, all that good stuff!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Name Change
So, as it turns out, I'm not the only one with the name "Screen Archives." I know this because the other SA people contacted me the other day and asked me to change my site name to avoid confusion/not take away from their company. So, now I'm "On Screen Reviews." So, uh, yeah, what's up with you guys?
Saturday, May 19, 2012
The Best of the 2011-2012 Fall TV Season
With the worst list out of the way, it's time for the best! This season saw many a good show, and quite few great episodes, but what's making it onto this post? Let's find out.
Best Show:
3. Grimm Season 1
In third place is Grimm, NBC's new fantasy-crime drama which follows Portland detective Nick Burkhardt, who discovers he is a grimm, which basically means he can see when certain people, called Wessin, change into fairy tale-like monsters. These monsters often kill, and when that happens, Nick, while investigating with the police, has to track the monster down and kill it. It does a great job with the whole genre-bender thing that's been big lately, offering plenty of chills, action, and humor along with great characters in Nick, Monroe, and Rosalie. In terms of storytelling, it's good, often great, but there's room for improvement, which is why this only comes in third. Grimm also wins the honorary title of best new show.
Best episode: Organ Grinder.
2. The Walking Dead Season 2
AMC's hit serial drama about survival and humanity in the zombie apocalypse returned for 13 episodes this year. So as our rag-tag group of survivors make there way across the wasteland, they come across a farm that may provide a potential haven and served as season 2's primary setting. There was a good amount of zombies getting there brains blown out in adrenaline rush action scenes, most notably in the season premier and finale, as well the dramatic depth we've come to expect. I wanted to make this number 1 at first, but I can't mostly because season 2 was slower and more dramatic then season 1, which occasionaly felt sorta soap opera-ish. That being said, it was still a good season. If it wasn't, it wouldn't be on this list, would it.
Best episode: Beside the Dying Fire.
1. Sherlock Season 2
The second season of BBC's modern rendition of Sherlock Holmes takes first place this season. After resolving last season's cliffhanger ending, the master sleuth and his side kick John Watson tackled three more cases based on classic Sherlock Holmes stories, while at the same time dealing with the nefarious Jim Moriarty. I honestly think it was possible, but season 2 actually outdid season 1. It was... indescribably good, covering all the bases and ending with a cliffhanger finale. I don't know what else to say beyond it kicked all manners of ass.
Best episode: tie between all of them.
Alright, that's my take on this TV season. As always, be sure to comment, subscribe, and check out my other posts!
Also, ask yourself this: what was the best part of this TV season for you? Comment below, let me know!
Best Show:
3. Grimm Season 1
In third place is Grimm, NBC's new fantasy-crime drama which follows Portland detective Nick Burkhardt, who discovers he is a grimm, which basically means he can see when certain people, called Wessin, change into fairy tale-like monsters. These monsters often kill, and when that happens, Nick, while investigating with the police, has to track the monster down and kill it. It does a great job with the whole genre-bender thing that's been big lately, offering plenty of chills, action, and humor along with great characters in Nick, Monroe, and Rosalie. In terms of storytelling, it's good, often great, but there's room for improvement, which is why this only comes in third. Grimm also wins the honorary title of best new show.
Best episode: Organ Grinder.
2. The Walking Dead Season 2
AMC's hit serial drama about survival and humanity in the zombie apocalypse returned for 13 episodes this year. So as our rag-tag group of survivors make there way across the wasteland, they come across a farm that may provide a potential haven and served as season 2's primary setting. There was a good amount of zombies getting there brains blown out in adrenaline rush action scenes, most notably in the season premier and finale, as well the dramatic depth we've come to expect. I wanted to make this number 1 at first, but I can't mostly because season 2 was slower and more dramatic then season 1, which occasionaly felt sorta soap opera-ish. That being said, it was still a good season. If it wasn't, it wouldn't be on this list, would it.
Best episode: Beside the Dying Fire.
1. Sherlock Season 2
The second season of BBC's modern rendition of Sherlock Holmes takes first place this season. After resolving last season's cliffhanger ending, the master sleuth and his side kick John Watson tackled three more cases based on classic Sherlock Holmes stories, while at the same time dealing with the nefarious Jim Moriarty. I honestly think it was possible, but season 2 actually outdid season 1. It was... indescribably good, covering all the bases and ending with a cliffhanger finale. I don't know what else to say beyond it kicked all manners of ass.
Best episode: tie between all of them.
Alright, that's my take on this TV season. As always, be sure to comment, subscribe, and check out my other posts!
Also, ask yourself this: what was the best part of this TV season for you? Comment below, let me know!
The Worst of the 2011-2012 Fall TV Season
So, this TV season has more or less come to a close with the majority of shows having had their respective season finales. I figure it's time for me to count down what I think were this year's hits and misses.
Let's look at the misses:
Worst Show:
3. Chuck Season 5
Coming in 3rd place for worst show of the season is the fifth and final season of what was once my favorite show. After watching season 4, I'm of the opinion that season 3 would've been a good stopping point. But no, the overzealous cult following that got it a 3rd season wouldn't rest and demanded a fifth season, which they got, sort of. Chuck was banished to 8 PM on Fridays for it's final 13 episodes, all of which sucked. Why? Morgan was the Intersect. That is just a stupid idea on so many levels. Plus, Chuck went back to being useless, which is was pretty sad, Ellie and Devon got really annoying, and Shaw came back (seriously?!) But the biggest thing was the show became more predictable and way more convuluted, with increasingly bland episodes. Even the Chuck-Sarah chemisty couldn't salvage this sinking ship.
2. The Office Season 8
In second place is a show that doesn't need to end so much as be put out of it's misery. With Michael gone and replaced by the kinda-creepy Rober California, the show was without the thread that had held it together from the begining and kept people watching in the last two seasons of decline. This was coupled with writers that are clearly running out of ideas and a Ryan that has devolved into a full on prick. Sadly, there will be a season 9, but I know I won't watch it.
1. Terra Nova Season 1
Do I even need to explain it? Probably not, but I will. It sucked. It really sucked. It had a great premise (humans escaping a dying earth and fleeing to an alternate universe full of dinosaurs) but it was plagued by awful writers, annoying characters, and episodes that well, sucked. And that is why the first and fortunately only season of Terra Nova is the worst show of the season.
Worst Episodes:
3. Alcatraz: Cal Sweeney.
Predictable, annoying, repititve, and just plain bad.
2. Terra Nova: The Runaway
Don't even get me started.
1. Terra Nova: Bylaw
So much about this one sucked that I honestly can't talk about it without risking ranting for over hour.
So, that's the worst of this TV season in my opinion, but tell me: what was the worst of it for you guys? Comment and let me know!
Or, just comment, subscribe , and check out my other posts!
Let's look at the misses:
Worst Show:
3. Chuck Season 5
Coming in 3rd place for worst show of the season is the fifth and final season of what was once my favorite show. After watching season 4, I'm of the opinion that season 3 would've been a good stopping point. But no, the overzealous cult following that got it a 3rd season wouldn't rest and demanded a fifth season, which they got, sort of. Chuck was banished to 8 PM on Fridays for it's final 13 episodes, all of which sucked. Why? Morgan was the Intersect. That is just a stupid idea on so many levels. Plus, Chuck went back to being useless, which is was pretty sad, Ellie and Devon got really annoying, and Shaw came back (seriously?!) But the biggest thing was the show became more predictable and way more convuluted, with increasingly bland episodes. Even the Chuck-Sarah chemisty couldn't salvage this sinking ship.
2. The Office Season 8
In second place is a show that doesn't need to end so much as be put out of it's misery. With Michael gone and replaced by the kinda-creepy Rober California, the show was without the thread that had held it together from the begining and kept people watching in the last two seasons of decline. This was coupled with writers that are clearly running out of ideas and a Ryan that has devolved into a full on prick. Sadly, there will be a season 9, but I know I won't watch it.
1. Terra Nova Season 1
Do I even need to explain it? Probably not, but I will. It sucked. It really sucked. It had a great premise (humans escaping a dying earth and fleeing to an alternate universe full of dinosaurs) but it was plagued by awful writers, annoying characters, and episodes that well, sucked. And that is why the first and fortunately only season of Terra Nova is the worst show of the season.
Worst Episodes:
3. Alcatraz: Cal Sweeney.
Predictable, annoying, repititve, and just plain bad.
2. Terra Nova: The Runaway
Don't even get me started.
1. Terra Nova: Bylaw
So much about this one sucked that I honestly can't talk about it without risking ranting for over hour.
So, that's the worst of this TV season in my opinion, but tell me: what was the worst of it for you guys? Comment and let me know!
Or, just comment, subscribe , and check out my other posts!
Grimm Season 1 Review
So, I've reviewed the season finale, now for the season itself.
In A Nutshell: So Nick Burkhardt is a detective for the Portland PD, and he starts seeing things: people transforming into fairy tale-type monsters spontaneously and then changing back. When his aunt Marie visits him, she tells him that they are descended from The Brothers Grimm, who saw monsters within people called Wessin. The Wessin would sometimes kill, and thats when the Grimms showed up and killed them. Then they wrote it all down as fairy tales. The show then combines cop mysteries with fantasy, having a moster of the week format for the most part in which cops investigate but Nick realizes a Wessin is behind it and he has to kill it. He gets help from Monroe, a reformed Big Bad Wolf-type Wessin. Nick also has to hide what he does from his girlfriend Juliette, which becomes increasingly difficult as the season progresses. Most of the episodes were either straight up or loose adaptations of fairy tales, but they did do their own thing, mostly with episodes used to expand the show's mythology, particularly with the mystery surrounding the police captain.
The Good: I was pleased pretty early on by the show, with good characters in Nick and Monroe, plus plenty of action, chills, and humor. The mythology, which, albeit, came pretty slowly, was intriguing and kept me watching. Nick also becomes a full on badass over the course of the season, which is always good. Most of the MOTW stories were also great, putting a clever spin on fairy tales and reinventing the procedural format in a smart, entertaining way.
The Bad: I did kinda hate one episode in particular (Pointing at you, Happily Ever Aftermath!) but the only real problem I had beyond that was Juliette and Hank were both kinda 2D characters. I get it, the show is meant to be mostly about Nick and his sidekick Monroe, and Hank was pretty cool sometimes, so there's only so much for Juliette to do. But honestly, the worried girlfriend/damsel in distress thing gets old sorta fast.
Noteworthy Episodes:
Pilot: It started the show off and did a little red riding hood thing.
Danse Macabre: Don't know what it was, but this one just really did it for me.
The Three Bad Wolves: In which we get a look at Monroe's dark side. Yes, you read that right.
Organ Grinder: It was penned as "Grimm taking a stab at Hansel and Gretel." And what a stab it was. Out of all the straight up fairy tale adaptations, this was one of the best.
Tarantella: Amy Acker guest stars and plays a black widow spider-Wessin.
3 Coins in a Fuschbau: We first encounter the three coins, which will play a major part in the finale. That being said, it was great on it's own, and had one of the greatest "Oh Crap!" moments of the year.
Island of Dreams: In which we meet Rosalee, whose being upgraded to a main character for season two.
Cat and Mouse: This was the first time we really get introduced to the resistance group storyline, one of the shows most interesting features.
The Woman in Black: The excellent season finale saw it all come together and leave us with multiple cliffhangers.
So, that's my review of Grimm: Season 1.
Final Rating: 94%
So, what did you think of Grimm Season 1? Comment below, let me know!
Be sure to comment, subscribe, anc check out my other posts!
In A Nutshell: So Nick Burkhardt is a detective for the Portland PD, and he starts seeing things: people transforming into fairy tale-type monsters spontaneously and then changing back. When his aunt Marie visits him, she tells him that they are descended from The Brothers Grimm, who saw monsters within people called Wessin. The Wessin would sometimes kill, and thats when the Grimms showed up and killed them. Then they wrote it all down as fairy tales. The show then combines cop mysteries with fantasy, having a moster of the week format for the most part in which cops investigate but Nick realizes a Wessin is behind it and he has to kill it. He gets help from Monroe, a reformed Big Bad Wolf-type Wessin. Nick also has to hide what he does from his girlfriend Juliette, which becomes increasingly difficult as the season progresses. Most of the episodes were either straight up or loose adaptations of fairy tales, but they did do their own thing, mostly with episodes used to expand the show's mythology, particularly with the mystery surrounding the police captain.
The Good: I was pleased pretty early on by the show, with good characters in Nick and Monroe, plus plenty of action, chills, and humor. The mythology, which, albeit, came pretty slowly, was intriguing and kept me watching. Nick also becomes a full on badass over the course of the season, which is always good. Most of the MOTW stories were also great, putting a clever spin on fairy tales and reinventing the procedural format in a smart, entertaining way.
The Bad: I did kinda hate one episode in particular (Pointing at you, Happily Ever Aftermath!) but the only real problem I had beyond that was Juliette and Hank were both kinda 2D characters. I get it, the show is meant to be mostly about Nick and his sidekick Monroe, and Hank was pretty cool sometimes, so there's only so much for Juliette to do. But honestly, the worried girlfriend/damsel in distress thing gets old sorta fast.
Noteworthy Episodes:
Pilot: It started the show off and did a little red riding hood thing.
Danse Macabre: Don't know what it was, but this one just really did it for me.
The Three Bad Wolves: In which we get a look at Monroe's dark side. Yes, you read that right.
Organ Grinder: It was penned as "Grimm taking a stab at Hansel and Gretel." And what a stab it was. Out of all the straight up fairy tale adaptations, this was one of the best.
Tarantella: Amy Acker guest stars and plays a black widow spider-Wessin.
3 Coins in a Fuschbau: We first encounter the three coins, which will play a major part in the finale. That being said, it was great on it's own, and had one of the greatest "Oh Crap!" moments of the year.
Island of Dreams: In which we meet Rosalee, whose being upgraded to a main character for season two.
Cat and Mouse: This was the first time we really get introduced to the resistance group storyline, one of the shows most interesting features.
The Woman in Black: The excellent season finale saw it all come together and leave us with multiple cliffhangers.
So, that's my review of Grimm: Season 1.
Final Rating: 94%
So, what did you think of Grimm Season 1? Comment below, let me know!
Be sure to comment, subscribe, anc check out my other posts!
Episode Reviewed: Grimm: Woman In Black
At last, Grimm's first season finale has arrived! I just watched it, so it's time for my take.
In A Nutshell: So, Hakiro Kimora, the only surviving member of the four men who killed Nick's parents, is in town, and he wants the 3 coins, which we still don't know what Nick did with. At the same time, Hank is recovering from what he saw, and he may think he's going nuts. Plus, Adalin, the Hexenbiest-witch the Nick drained of her powers, poisons Juliette using... her cat, which ironically is named Majique, which leads to Nick telling Juliette about what he really is (if you think that's a spoiler in any way, they showed Nick doing that in the promos, so most folks already knew that would happen.) To top it all off, the titular, enigmatic woman in black arrives in town and we don't know her motives. This was basically the culmination of most of the slowly built up mythology Grimm has established this season. And naturally, since this is David Greenwalt we're tallking about, there was a cliffhanger ending. Multiple cliffhangers, actually, and twist.
The Good: I'm really glad that the show didn't go for another MOTW and instead built upon it's on mythos, which really worked to it's advantage. This was just a great way to end the season and was immensly entertaining. Plus, there were plenty of great fight scenes, the one at the end being particularly badass. I was already on board for season two, but now I REALLY am after all these fights, cliffhangers, and twists. Let me say this about the cliffhangers: They were excellent. I won't spoil anything for those of you who haven't seen it yet, but your gonna be very pleased.
The Bad: Only two things: the reapers/resistance group/royal families storyline was not revisited, but to be fair, there was only so much they could do in one episode. I was also able to predict the twist at the end, but it could have just been a lucky guess. Maybe not, be but it either way it was a good turn of events.
Final Rating: 94%
Be sure to comment, subscribe, and check out my other posts!
In A Nutshell: So, Hakiro Kimora, the only surviving member of the four men who killed Nick's parents, is in town, and he wants the 3 coins, which we still don't know what Nick did with. At the same time, Hank is recovering from what he saw, and he may think he's going nuts. Plus, Adalin, the Hexenbiest-witch the Nick drained of her powers, poisons Juliette using... her cat, which ironically is named Majique, which leads to Nick telling Juliette about what he really is (if you think that's a spoiler in any way, they showed Nick doing that in the promos, so most folks already knew that would happen.) To top it all off, the titular, enigmatic woman in black arrives in town and we don't know her motives. This was basically the culmination of most of the slowly built up mythology Grimm has established this season. And naturally, since this is David Greenwalt we're tallking about, there was a cliffhanger ending. Multiple cliffhangers, actually, and twist.
The Good: I'm really glad that the show didn't go for another MOTW and instead built upon it's on mythos, which really worked to it's advantage. This was just a great way to end the season and was immensly entertaining. Plus, there were plenty of great fight scenes, the one at the end being particularly badass. I was already on board for season two, but now I REALLY am after all these fights, cliffhangers, and twists. Let me say this about the cliffhangers: They were excellent. I won't spoil anything for those of you who haven't seen it yet, but your gonna be very pleased.
The Bad: Only two things: the reapers/resistance group/royal families storyline was not revisited, but to be fair, there was only so much they could do in one episode. I was also able to predict the twist at the end, but it could have just been a lucky guess. Maybe not, be but it either way it was a good turn of events.
Final Rating: 94%
Be sure to comment, subscribe, and check out my other posts!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Screen Files Film Hall of Fame May 2012
So, I've already made The Fresh Prince of Bel Air as the first TV Hall of Famer, so now it's time for a movie to enter the hall. Like I said in the last post, I'll usually let people vote from a couple of options over the course of a month in the comment section and take that in account when deciding, but I've decided I just want to put something out there for the first inductions.
So, for a movie to be nominated and then inducted into the Hall of Fame, it has to fit two requirements:
1. I have to like,
2. It has to have been out for at least one year. So sadly, The Avengers, Chronicle, Moneyball, and the Muppets are all gonna have to wait to get nominated.
And the first inductee into the Screen Files Film Hall of Fame is:
3:10 to Yuma!!!!!!!!!!!
First I should probably clarify something: I'm talking about the remake. So, the remake of the hit western is about an Arizona rancher played by Christian Bale, wearing that beard he rocked in the first 1/4 of Batman Begins, whose farm is in danger of drying up and closing. To make money to feed his family, he agrees to help escort convicted murderer Ben Wade (Russel Crowe) to a train in Yuma that will bring him to prison. But, bad news, Wade's gang is hot on their trail. Everything about this movie rules: There's an abundance of kick ass gunfights, a great plot, awesome scenery, and two oscar-worthy performances by Bale and Crowe, particularly the later. Seriously, Crowe OWNS his role as the most menacingly charismatic bad guy ever. The movie is dark and violent, though occasionally very funny. Plus, ALAN TUDYK (OH MY GOD IT'S WASH!!) It's just flat out awesome, and that is what makes the first official Screen Archives Film Hall of Famer!
BE SURE TO COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE, AND CHECK OUT MY OTHER POSTS!
So, for a movie to be nominated and then inducted into the Hall of Fame, it has to fit two requirements:
1. I have to like,
2. It has to have been out for at least one year. So sadly, The Avengers, Chronicle, Moneyball, and the Muppets are all gonna have to wait to get nominated.
And the first inductee into the Screen Files Film Hall of Fame is:
3:10 to Yuma!!!!!!!!!!!
First I should probably clarify something: I'm talking about the remake. So, the remake of the hit western is about an Arizona rancher played by Christian Bale, wearing that beard he rocked in the first 1/4 of Batman Begins, whose farm is in danger of drying up and closing. To make money to feed his family, he agrees to help escort convicted murderer Ben Wade (Russel Crowe) to a train in Yuma that will bring him to prison. But, bad news, Wade's gang is hot on their trail. Everything about this movie rules: There's an abundance of kick ass gunfights, a great plot, awesome scenery, and two oscar-worthy performances by Bale and Crowe, particularly the later. Seriously, Crowe OWNS his role as the most menacingly charismatic bad guy ever. The movie is dark and violent, though occasionally very funny. Plus, ALAN TUDYK (OH MY GOD IT'S WASH!!) It's just flat out awesome, and that is what makes the first official Screen Archives Film Hall of Famer!
BE SURE TO COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE, AND CHECK OUT MY OTHER POSTS!
Screen Files TV Hall of Fame May 2012
So, the newest feature here at Screen Files is the Hall of Legends. Each month, I'll induct one TV show and one movie into the Hall, giving them legendary status. I'll usually do it differently then this though. Usually, I'll put out four nominees for each category at the beginning of the month and take votes in the comment section into account when making my own decision for what to induct. But, for May 2012, I've decided to just pick a movie and a show and make them the first Legends without checking comments. Don't worry, this is the only time I'll do it like this.
For a show to be able to be inducted, it has to have either:
A. already have ended but completed at least one season,
or
B. Still be on but be have had at least two seasons.
And May 2012's Screen Files Hall of Legends Inductee Is:
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air!!!!
Will Smith's classic sitcom, in which he plays Will Smith, west Philadelphia born and raised, who got in one little fight, his mom got scared, and said your moving with your aunty and uncle in Bel Air. His uncle's a filthy rich lawyer who lives in a mansion and has 3... interesting kids, and British butler. After Will moves in with them, culture clashes ensue, often leading to hilarity. And while the show did have it's heavy dramatic moments throughout it's impressively long run, the show is best known for being hysterically funny in that way only Will Smith can be. Plus, best theme song ever! And it's because of that that The Fresh Prince of Bel Air becomes Screen Archives first official TV Hall of Famer.
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Arrow Second Trailer Review
So this one just came out today, a new arrow trailer, this one delving into origins and the actual plot of the show.
In A Nutshell: Oliver Queen, hier to billions of dollars, was stranded on a deserted island for 5 years. During that time, he becomes a master archer. When he returns, he finds his city has gone to crap and he becomes Green Arrow to fight crime, using a list of names given to him by his late father to find targets.
The Good: Green Arrow's origins seem pretty cool, and the action sequences in the trailer look great. He's a classic badass, really. And, unlike Batman, Green Arrow will kill people, and I think that's what will set this show apart from Nolan-Batman. You've also got Katie Cassidy, who played Ruby in Supernatural. She's a good actress, so I she does well in the role. This shows potential for serialization, which would be great just as long as the overall story is good. The overall story, which is basically GA launching an all out war on the mob, does look pretty good.
The Bad: Some of Oliver Queen's dialogue in the voiceover is kinda corny, but so long as it isn't actually used in the show, I'll let it slide. It does also seem a bit like your standard superhero movie/show trailer, but hopefully the writers will be able to set it apart from the rest of today's abundance of comic book adaptations.
Once again, I think the show is worth a look.
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Trailer anyone?
In A Nutshell: Oliver Queen, hier to billions of dollars, was stranded on a deserted island for 5 years. During that time, he becomes a master archer. When he returns, he finds his city has gone to crap and he becomes Green Arrow to fight crime, using a list of names given to him by his late father to find targets.
The Good: Green Arrow's origins seem pretty cool, and the action sequences in the trailer look great. He's a classic badass, really. And, unlike Batman, Green Arrow will kill people, and I think that's what will set this show apart from Nolan-Batman. You've also got Katie Cassidy, who played Ruby in Supernatural. She's a good actress, so I she does well in the role. This shows potential for serialization, which would be great just as long as the overall story is good. The overall story, which is basically GA launching an all out war on the mob, does look pretty good.
The Bad: Some of Oliver Queen's dialogue in the voiceover is kinda corny, but so long as it isn't actually used in the show, I'll let it slide. It does also seem a bit like your standard superhero movie/show trailer, but hopefully the writers will be able to set it apart from the rest of today's abundance of comic book adaptations.
Once again, I think the show is worth a look.
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Trailer anyone?
Arrow First Trailer Review
So, the CW is unleashing a new superhero show come fall, titled "Arrow." It's based on the DC comics hero Green Arrow (Insert obligatory Justin Hartley joke here), who, for you Marvel guys, is the DC equivalent of Hawkeye. The show promises to gritty, dark, and hard edged, ala the Dark Knight. This could mean that, gasp, the CW is creating a guy show. So, billionaire Oliver Queen (if any of you trolls play that name up, I will track you down and hurt you) was ship wrecked on a desert island or something like that for a few years, comes back, trains like hell, dons a hood, and starts fighting crime using his archery skills ala Robin Hood.
In A Nutshell: The trailer actually doesn't show that much of the plot of the show. It gives us a short training montage of Oliver/ Green Arrow being/becoming a badass. And it does have grit.
The Good: Despite not giving us much to work with, the trailer is pretty awesome. Green Arrow is supposed to be a straight up badass, and that much is obvious from this trailer. It just gives us a snippit of the awesomeness that could very well be ahead. I'm really hoping they'll do something different with this superhero show, by which I mean serialization, which this seems to have potential for.
The Bad: There wasn't anything I actually disliked here, but I have some reservations about this show. First off, superhero shows just tend not to work unless they're on the CW... which this is... but still, it says something when just last year two superhero shows are unceremoniously axed within two months of each other.
Will I give the pilot a gander this september? Yes. Should you guys? Watch the trailer for yourself and decide.
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Trailer anyone?
In A Nutshell: The trailer actually doesn't show that much of the plot of the show. It gives us a short training montage of Oliver/ Green Arrow being/becoming a badass. And it does have grit.
The Good: Despite not giving us much to work with, the trailer is pretty awesome. Green Arrow is supposed to be a straight up badass, and that much is obvious from this trailer. It just gives us a snippit of the awesomeness that could very well be ahead. I'm really hoping they'll do something different with this superhero show, by which I mean serialization, which this seems to have potential for.
The Bad: There wasn't anything I actually disliked here, but I have some reservations about this show. First off, superhero shows just tend not to work unless they're on the CW... which this is... but still, it says something when just last year two superhero shows are unceremoniously axed within two months of each other.
Will I give the pilot a gander this september? Yes. Should you guys? Watch the trailer for yourself and decide.
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Trailer anyone?
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Revolution Trailer Review
Okay, so you guys might have already seen this trailer, it's been on youtube for about a few days now, so I figured I had to review it.
In a Nutshell: So, Revolution is an offshoot of sorts of all the other post apocalypse shows on now, like The Walking Dead and Falling Skies. It's a TV show that takes place in a future where electricity has just stopped working. As a result, governments fall, militias rise, and people create simple makeshift farms. Weapons are crossbows, swords, and the occasional musket. But, guess what, this one girl's dad might know something about/ be responsible for the lights going out, and after a couple of things happen, she, along with two others, set out on a quest. Female lead, crossbows, swords... this ringing any bells with you guys.
The Good: This show comes from Jon Favreau, who directed Iron Man, Eric Kripke, who created Supernatural, and JJ Abrams, whose just awesome in general. There's also a ton of other big names behind this, but I have ton of respect for the three previously mentioned awesomeness-generators. The premise behind this show/trailer is pretty cool, and it's implied through that the central mystery will drive the show, making it a serial (Woo!) The action scenes also look awesome, only adding to the good.
The Bad: They did a voiceover. I don't like voiceovers. I also am a little afraid that the trailer might be making it look better then it really is. God knows that's happened before (I'm looking at you, Terra Nova!) I'm not gonna try to be too pessimistic going though.
So, Revolution airs Mondays at ten this fall on NBC. Will I give the pilot a gander? Yes, mostly because I am in desperate need of a way to fill my ever growing appetite for serialized TV.
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Trailer Anyone?
In a Nutshell: So, Revolution is an offshoot of sorts of all the other post apocalypse shows on now, like The Walking Dead and Falling Skies. It's a TV show that takes place in a future where electricity has just stopped working. As a result, governments fall, militias rise, and people create simple makeshift farms. Weapons are crossbows, swords, and the occasional musket. But, guess what, this one girl's dad might know something about/ be responsible for the lights going out, and after a couple of things happen, she, along with two others, set out on a quest. Female lead, crossbows, swords... this ringing any bells with you guys.
The Good: This show comes from Jon Favreau, who directed Iron Man, Eric Kripke, who created Supernatural, and JJ Abrams, whose just awesome in general. There's also a ton of other big names behind this, but I have ton of respect for the three previously mentioned awesomeness-generators. The premise behind this show/trailer is pretty cool, and it's implied through that the central mystery will drive the show, making it a serial (Woo!) The action scenes also look awesome, only adding to the good.
The Bad: They did a voiceover. I don't like voiceovers. I also am a little afraid that the trailer might be making it look better then it really is. God knows that's happened before (I'm looking at you, Terra Nova!) I'm not gonna try to be too pessimistic going though.
So, Revolution airs Mondays at ten this fall on NBC. Will I give the pilot a gander? Yes, mostly because I am in desperate need of a way to fill my ever growing appetite for serialized TV.
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Trailer Anyone?
I'm Upset
Prometheus is rated R. I'm only 15. So I'm upset. I could go on about how upset for awhile but odds are you guys have already stopped reading this, so yeah.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Grimm Season Finale Predictions
So, the first season of NBC's surprise hit supernatural drama Grimm comes to a close next week. We already know the show's been renewed for a second season, so we don't have to worry about this being the series finale. It's time for my take.
What We Already Know: The episode centers around the resurfacing of the 3 coins previously seen in episode 13. At the same time, an enigmatic woman in black arrives in town, and the episode is aptly titled "The Woman In Black."
Predictions: I think the writers are going to incorporate the resistance group into the episode. It's a cool storyline, and it seems to have gone over well with fans, so I've funny feeling it'll show up. The possibility of more Reapers is also in the air. I think we'll finally find out just WHAT Captain Renard is and what his true agenda is, and he'll probably want those coins, as will the woman in black and Renard's royal family. There should be at least one epic fight scene. Last episode ended with a bit of a cliffhanger, and I think that either Juliette, Hank, or both are going to find out the truth about Nick. I also think one of them will get killed off. If you're thinking "No way" right now, this is David Greenwalt we're talking about here people! He offed a character in Angel after 9 episodes (yes, I'm talking about Doyle) for God's sake! With season 2 confirmed, I'm hoping they'll go for a cliffhanger/ambiguous ending that changes the game for next season. Overall, I've got high hopes for the finale.
So, what do you want to see in the season finale? Leave your answer in the comment section.
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What We Already Know: The episode centers around the resurfacing of the 3 coins previously seen in episode 13. At the same time, an enigmatic woman in black arrives in town, and the episode is aptly titled "The Woman In Black."
Predictions: I think the writers are going to incorporate the resistance group into the episode. It's a cool storyline, and it seems to have gone over well with fans, so I've funny feeling it'll show up. The possibility of more Reapers is also in the air. I think we'll finally find out just WHAT Captain Renard is and what his true agenda is, and he'll probably want those coins, as will the woman in black and Renard's royal family. There should be at least one epic fight scene. Last episode ended with a bit of a cliffhanger, and I think that either Juliette, Hank, or both are going to find out the truth about Nick. I also think one of them will get killed off. If you're thinking "No way" right now, this is David Greenwalt we're talking about here people! He offed a character in Angel after 9 episodes (yes, I'm talking about Doyle) for God's sake! With season 2 confirmed, I'm hoping they'll go for a cliffhanger/ambiguous ending that changes the game for next season. Overall, I've got high hopes for the finale.
So, what do you want to see in the season finale? Leave your answer in the comment section.
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Episode Reviewed: Grimm: Big Feet
Did you know that the Pacific Northwest is home to the most sasquatch sitings in America? That's why I'm not surprised Grimm has decided to go for a bigfoot-esque monster of the week.
In A Nutshell: Okay, to be fair, there are more bigfoot sitings in Washington then Oregon, but that doesn't really matter. A friend of Monroe's from a sort of Vessin support group is caught in a sort of halfway state between human and Vessin, which drives him nuts and makes him kill people. Juliette ends up finding the bodies, as well as some Vessin hair, which she takes in for analysis. The investigation leads Nick and Monroe to a therapist whose working on a way to supress the creature side of Vessin, and the results aint pretty. Somewhere in all this, Monroe accidently lets Hank see the beast, which makes Hank, and Juliette after her test results come back, question what's really going on in Portland.
The Good: After last week, just about anything was gonna seem like a step up, but this was genuinely a good story. I like the whole idea that bigfoot might just be a Vessin who loses control every now and then, and some of the chase scenes, plus the Vessin fight between Monroe and Captain Therapy Man was pretty darn awesome. The fake carnage was, as usual, very convincing, and it was nice to see the show go for good old fashioned make up instead of the kinda corny CGI they usually use for Vessin. Something else I've noticed lately is the show seems to be going for a kind of neo noire feel, granted, without the hard boiled dialogue, that I'm pretty happy about. I loves me some neo noir!
The Bad: Not much in the way of mythos this time out, but the season finale's next week anyway, so it'll probably come then. Camera was a shaky a few times, but it was chase scene in a show with a limited budget, so I'm not really complaining.
Final Rating: 87%
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In A Nutshell: Okay, to be fair, there are more bigfoot sitings in Washington then Oregon, but that doesn't really matter. A friend of Monroe's from a sort of Vessin support group is caught in a sort of halfway state between human and Vessin, which drives him nuts and makes him kill people. Juliette ends up finding the bodies, as well as some Vessin hair, which she takes in for analysis. The investigation leads Nick and Monroe to a therapist whose working on a way to supress the creature side of Vessin, and the results aint pretty. Somewhere in all this, Monroe accidently lets Hank see the beast, which makes Hank, and Juliette after her test results come back, question what's really going on in Portland.
The Good: After last week, just about anything was gonna seem like a step up, but this was genuinely a good story. I like the whole idea that bigfoot might just be a Vessin who loses control every now and then, and some of the chase scenes, plus the Vessin fight between Monroe and Captain Therapy Man was pretty darn awesome. The fake carnage was, as usual, very convincing, and it was nice to see the show go for good old fashioned make up instead of the kinda corny CGI they usually use for Vessin. Something else I've noticed lately is the show seems to be going for a kind of neo noire feel, granted, without the hard boiled dialogue, that I'm pretty happy about. I loves me some neo noir!
The Bad: Not much in the way of mythos this time out, but the season finale's next week anyway, so it'll probably come then. Camera was a shaky a few times, but it was chase scene in a show with a limited budget, so I'm not really complaining.
Final Rating: 87%
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Friday, May 11, 2012
The Campaign Trailer #1 Review
I don't think I've ever mentioned this, but I love Will Ferrel movies. A lot. Really. So, the Campaign is about a 4 term congressman played by Will Ferrel whose re-election is opposed by first timer Zack Galifanskis. Only fun can ensue from here.
The Good: Will Ferrel being Will Ferrel, Zack G. being Zack G. Both of these guys are usually hilarious, so seeing them bounce off of eachother should be fun. The trailer shows us a few Ricky Bobby-esque jokes that made me laugh, though the Ferrel's character seems more like Ron Burgundy. Great music, too.
The Bad: People who hate Will Ferrel movies aren't going to pleased. I'm of the minority who liked the Other Guys (meaning I'm not a pretentious cretin) so Ferrel's humor has yet to grow stale on me. Granted, it does feel a bit like it could be a rehash of Anchorman, mostly because these are characters Ferrel and Zack G. have both played before, but if it's done well, that won't be a bad thing, so much as a hysterically funny thing.
Prediction: Ferrel fulfills his his obligation to make a gut-buster once every two years, Zack G. gets forgiven for The Hangover Part 2.
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The Good: Will Ferrel being Will Ferrel, Zack G. being Zack G. Both of these guys are usually hilarious, so seeing them bounce off of eachother should be fun. The trailer shows us a few Ricky Bobby-esque jokes that made me laugh, though the Ferrel's character seems more like Ron Burgundy. Great music, too.
The Bad: People who hate Will Ferrel movies aren't going to pleased. I'm of the minority who liked the Other Guys (meaning I'm not a pretentious cretin) so Ferrel's humor has yet to grow stale on me. Granted, it does feel a bit like it could be a rehash of Anchorman, mostly because these are characters Ferrel and Zack G. have both played before, but if it's done well, that won't be a bad thing, so much as a hysterically funny thing.
Prediction: Ferrel fulfills his his obligation to make a gut-buster once every two years, Zack G. gets forgiven for The Hangover Part 2.
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Zombie Hamlet Trailer #1 Review
Okay, so first off, yes, I'm basically going to make these trailers reviews a regular thing. Second, I just watched the trailer for a move titled "Zombie Hamlet." I'll just pause for a moment so you can laugh hysterically/sigh in disgust for 5 straight minutes.
In A Nutshell: It's actually less straightforward then you'd think. So, the movie follows a couple of film makers who through a series of incredibly simple events and creative break throughs end up making an indie film version of Hamlet (but with zombies) in a small town in the deep south. It's kind of a new installment to all of the genre-bending going on in Hollywood these days.
The Good: Something about this trailer appeals to me, and it's probably the completely absurd premise (for crying out loud, I'm looking forward to seeing Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter) The whole idea of hick reporters stalking washed up film makers shooting a zombified Shakespeare movie has a sort of allure to it in an enjoyably chaotic mess sort of way.
The Bad: I sort of feel like this is a rip off of pride and prejiduce and zombies, but not really. My two main beefs here are, A., they give away what will probably be the movie's only good twist, and B., it's just one of those things where you watch it and you think "that could be cool... but it could also suck really easily." I'm hoping it will be good, but should I actually see it, I'll try to keep my expectations relatively low.
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In A Nutshell: It's actually less straightforward then you'd think. So, the movie follows a couple of film makers who through a series of incredibly simple events and creative break throughs end up making an indie film version of Hamlet (but with zombies) in a small town in the deep south. It's kind of a new installment to all of the genre-bending going on in Hollywood these days.
The Good: Something about this trailer appeals to me, and it's probably the completely absurd premise (for crying out loud, I'm looking forward to seeing Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter) The whole idea of hick reporters stalking washed up film makers shooting a zombified Shakespeare movie has a sort of allure to it in an enjoyably chaotic mess sort of way.
The Bad: I sort of feel like this is a rip off of pride and prejiduce and zombies, but not really. My two main beefs here are, A., they give away what will probably be the movie's only good twist, and B., it's just one of those things where you watch it and you think "that could be cool... but it could also suck really easily." I'm hoping it will be good, but should I actually see it, I'll try to keep my expectations relatively low.
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Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Summer Movie Preview
Alright, so with the Avengers out now, the summer movie season has begun! It's time I tell you about what movies that I know right now I'll be covering.
The Amazing Spider Man: This one's pretty obvious, I'd say. By now, you most likely know what this is about, but if you don't, it's a Spider Man origin story that focuses on Peter Parker's parents, with the Lizard as it's villain. Spider Man is my favorite super hero, has been since I was like four, so I'm excited.
The Dark Knight Rises: Do I even need to explain?
Prometheus: Ridley's Scott's sort of prequel to his hit sci fi/horror movie Alien. I love Alien, so I'm really looking forward to this.
Men in Black 3: Men in Black does the time travel thing, Josh Brolin does an impression/parody of Tommy Lee Jones. An absurd amount of money will be made.
The Bourne Legacy: Jeremy Renner fills in for Mr. Damon in what we're all hoping will the next great spy thriller. Renner seems to be in a lot of movies I've seen lately in supporting roles, so now that he's getting his own movie, I'd have to see it even if it didn't look incredibly awesome. The real question now is "can Renner kill someone with a pen?"
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter: Say what you want about it based on the title, as a fan of the book and someone who thinks the trailer looks awesome, I'm looking forward to what might be the most self explanatory title in quite some time.
Total Recall: Gotta see the original first, but this looks pretty good. It's basically one of those "what is real?" type deals.
The Campaign: It's time for the next great Will Ferrel film, folks. This time, we take a John Stewart style look at politics.
So, those are the movies I'm looking forward to this summer. I might not get to see all of them over the summer, so you Either way, there seems to be good stuff in the near future.
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The Amazing Spider Man: This one's pretty obvious, I'd say. By now, you most likely know what this is about, but if you don't, it's a Spider Man origin story that focuses on Peter Parker's parents, with the Lizard as it's villain. Spider Man is my favorite super hero, has been since I was like four, so I'm excited.
The Dark Knight Rises: Do I even need to explain?
Prometheus: Ridley's Scott's sort of prequel to his hit sci fi/horror movie Alien. I love Alien, so I'm really looking forward to this.
Men in Black 3: Men in Black does the time travel thing, Josh Brolin does an impression/parody of Tommy Lee Jones. An absurd amount of money will be made.
The Bourne Legacy: Jeremy Renner fills in for Mr. Damon in what we're all hoping will the next great spy thriller. Renner seems to be in a lot of movies I've seen lately in supporting roles, so now that he's getting his own movie, I'd have to see it even if it didn't look incredibly awesome. The real question now is "can Renner kill someone with a pen?"
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter: Say what you want about it based on the title, as a fan of the book and someone who thinks the trailer looks awesome, I'm looking forward to what might be the most self explanatory title in quite some time.
Total Recall: Gotta see the original first, but this looks pretty good. It's basically one of those "what is real?" type deals.
The Campaign: It's time for the next great Will Ferrel film, folks. This time, we take a John Stewart style look at politics.
So, those are the movies I'm looking forward to this summer. I might not get to see all of them over the summer, so you Either way, there seems to be good stuff in the near future.
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Sunday, May 6, 2012
The Amazing Spider Man final trailer review
Okay, so I'm still debating whether or not I'm gonna make these trailer reviews a regular thing, but either way, I gotta review this one. So, the 3rd and final trailer for the amazing spider has hit youtube, and I gotta say it's pretty cool. Now, between the Avengers and Dark Knight Rises, it's easy to forget about Peter Parker, but I won't because I love spider man, and this trailer is reminder that you do to.
New Info: The trailer directly states that what happened to Peter's mom and dad will play a major role in the movie, which fits because Doctor Connors/The Lizard is the bad guy. Also, Spiderman being wanted by the police as a vigilante in this movie will play an important role, unlike in the Sam Raimi movies, where it was just kinda awkwardly skated around.
The Good: You've mostly got some more of the same here: Spidey kicks some ass and does some wise cracking, which I'm very happy about. You've also got the Lizard tearing stuff apart, and the Lizard looks great here. Plus, you've got Emma Stone being ridiculously attractive in that way only she seems to be capable of and some more plot details. Looks we got some bio warfare on our hands, ladies and gents. This was absolutely a great trailer, and between this and the second one, I am way more on board with this movie than I was not even a year ago.
The Bad: I got nothing. Wait, no I don't. Wait, yeah I do. Wait, what the hell am I even saying? Wait, does this even make sense? WHAT?!
Predictions: My main prediction: this movie will kick ass! Also, Gwen Stacy will live through the movie but will probably die in the sequel, in which mister shadowy man who was talking to Dr. Connors again. Uncle Ben will almost definitely die in this movie (Poor Martin Sheen.) As for the Lizard's fait, my guess is Doctor Connors realizes what he's become and does himself in because Peter refuses to kill him.
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Trailer anyone?
New Info: The trailer directly states that what happened to Peter's mom and dad will play a major role in the movie, which fits because Doctor Connors/The Lizard is the bad guy. Also, Spiderman being wanted by the police as a vigilante in this movie will play an important role, unlike in the Sam Raimi movies, where it was just kinda awkwardly skated around.
The Good: You've mostly got some more of the same here: Spidey kicks some ass and does some wise cracking, which I'm very happy about. You've also got the Lizard tearing stuff apart, and the Lizard looks great here. Plus, you've got Emma Stone being ridiculously attractive in that way only she seems to be capable of and some more plot details. Looks we got some bio warfare on our hands, ladies and gents. This was absolutely a great trailer, and between this and the second one, I am way more on board with this movie than I was not even a year ago.
The Bad: I got nothing. Wait, no I don't. Wait, yeah I do. Wait, what the hell am I even saying? Wait, does this even make sense? WHAT?!
Predictions: My main prediction: this movie will kick ass! Also, Gwen Stacy will live through the movie but will probably die in the sequel, in which mister shadowy man who was talking to Dr. Connors again. Uncle Ben will almost definitely die in this movie (Poor Martin Sheen.) As for the Lizard's fait, my guess is Doctor Connors realizes what he's become and does himself in because Peter refuses to kill him.
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Trailer anyone?
How Do You Know If You're a Sci Fi Hipster?
This probably sounds like a ridiculous question, but bear with me. Some of you might be wondering what a sci fi hipster even is, having probably never heard the term in your life. It's exactly what the name implies: someone whose into non-mainstream science fiction. Wanna find out if your one? Take this questionnaire:
1. Is your favorite X Man Gambit?
Yes or No
2. Is your favorite Star Trek series Enterprise?
Yes or No
3. Is your favorite Avengers character Hawkeye?
Yes or No
4. Do you like Smallville?
Yes or No
5. Is your favorite Superman movie Superman Returns?
Yes or No
6. Do you prefer the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie over the TV show?
Yes or No
7. Ten years ago was your favorite TV network UPN?
Yes or No
8. Is your favorite season of the X Files season 9?
Yes or No
9. Do you prefer the classic Doctor Who series to the revived series?
Yes or No
10. Are you still waiting on Joss Whedon's Wonder Woman TV show?
Yes or No
11. Did you like ABC's "V"
Yes or No
12. Is your favorite superhero movie Hancock?
Yes or No
13. Do you like the Star Wars prequels?
Yes or No
14. Do you hate Transformers for no other reason than it was mainstream?
Yes or No
15. Over the course of this questionnaire, were you able to tell, even a little bit, that I, the blogger, was being completely sarcastic the whole time and this entire thing is fake?
Yes or No
If you answered yes to more then 5 of these questions, then your a sci fi hipster!
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1. Is your favorite X Man Gambit?
Yes or No
2. Is your favorite Star Trek series Enterprise?
Yes or No
3. Is your favorite Avengers character Hawkeye?
Yes or No
4. Do you like Smallville?
Yes or No
5. Is your favorite Superman movie Superman Returns?
Yes or No
6. Do you prefer the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie over the TV show?
Yes or No
7. Ten years ago was your favorite TV network UPN?
Yes or No
8. Is your favorite season of the X Files season 9?
Yes or No
9. Do you prefer the classic Doctor Who series to the revived series?
Yes or No
10. Are you still waiting on Joss Whedon's Wonder Woman TV show?
Yes or No
11. Did you like ABC's "V"
Yes or No
12. Is your favorite superhero movie Hancock?
Yes or No
13. Do you like the Star Wars prequels?
Yes or No
14. Do you hate Transformers for no other reason than it was mainstream?
Yes or No
15. Over the course of this questionnaire, were you able to tell, even a little bit, that I, the blogger, was being completely sarcastic the whole time and this entire thing is fake?
Yes or No
If you answered yes to more then 5 of these questions, then your a sci fi hipster!
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Saturday, May 5, 2012
Episode Reviewed: Grimm: Happily Ever Aftermath
And this week Grimm gives us a dark and bizarre version of cinderella. Could it have gone worse? Probably. Could it have gone better: Oh absolutely.
In A Nutshell: A woman is murdered and, coincidently, her step daughter just lost everything in a ponzi scheme. Nick and Hank investigate, the step daughter's got two ugly step sisters, godfather, and there's a few bats out of hell involved.
The Good: Not much. There's a subplot where we learn of four people involved in Nick's parents murders, 3 of which we've already met, and one of which is still at large.
The Bad: Most of it. A lot of the main story was really corny, and after one twist halfway through, the story gets really predictable. I get that this was just a filler episode before the finale, but they could've done a better job. I don't know, it just wasn't very good.
Final Rating: 82%
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In A Nutshell: A woman is murdered and, coincidently, her step daughter just lost everything in a ponzi scheme. Nick and Hank investigate, the step daughter's got two ugly step sisters, godfather, and there's a few bats out of hell involved.
The Good: Not much. There's a subplot where we learn of four people involved in Nick's parents murders, 3 of which we've already met, and one of which is still at large.
The Bad: Most of it. A lot of the main story was really corny, and after one twist halfway through, the story gets really predictable. I get that this was just a filler episode before the finale, but they could've done a better job. I don't know, it just wasn't very good.
Final Rating: 82%
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Movie Reviewed: The Avengers
How would I describe this enormous pile of awesome called The Avengers? Oh I know: If Iron Man and Independence Day had a baby that was twice as awesome as both of them combined, it would The Avengers! I've been waiting for this movie for well over a year now, and the wait was well worth it! So now, it's review time!
In A Nutshell: So, this is basically the culmination of everything Marvel has spent the last 50 years working towards. It was a total gamble at first, making a bunch of movies all leading up to this, a crossover between them, but it most definitely payed off. The plot? Loki, the Thor's demigod adopted brother last seen falling into a sort of inter dimensional void, is back, and he wants to lead an army of aliens to conquer the earth. But, he needs a cube that SHIELD, the previously introduced enigmatic government agency, has. So he comes to earth, takes it, and he's going to use it to bring his army here. So, SHIELD has to activate the Avengers Initiative, calling upon a group of remarkable people to fight the battles they can't. Who are these remarkable people? Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. Let the epicness begin.
The Good:Just about everything here. The storyline itself is really good, if kinda basic. But you don't realize that just because of how epic everything is, and you don't want it to end. Now, when all these strong personalities meet and collide, the movie doesn't take the easy, corny way out by having them all be like "oh let's all work together and save the earth because we're such good souls." They have them argue with each other, with personalities clashing, most notably the no nonsense Cap and fun and games Iron Man. This alone was fun to watch.
Heck, all the characters themselves are great. Joss Whedon, who wrote and directed the film, does a great job with what he does best: having a bunch of different people have to come together and face a task only they can complete. And he does a great job with all these characters. Tony Stark is the perfect character for him to write for, Cap is much better here than in his own movie, Thor is fun to watch, Back Widow is the strong female role Whedon is known for, heck, even the Hulk is great here, same Nick Fury and Agent Coleson. And you can really tell Whedon is a great writer when he can have Pepper Pots be the devoted girlfriend in a way that doesn't seem incredibly sexist.
Among all these awesome heroes is some believable, often hysterical dialogue, spoken by a group of amazing, A list actors in the primes of there careers who do great jobs with what they're given (Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johanasson, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffallo who is a much Hulk then Edward Norton, Gwenyth Paltrow, and Jeremy Renner.)
Loki is also a really awesome villain, his being believable and badass.
The special effects and sound are just indescribable, making the movie visually stunning and realistic in terms of sound quality, all of which is enhanced by Whedon's amazing directing.
And then you've got the last 30 minutes of the movie, which is massive action/final epic scene, and may just be the greatest fight in the history super hero movies. Now, every action scene here is incredible, but seriously, the last half hour alone is amazing and could be it's own thing, and then you've got 1 hour and 50 minutes of kick ass awesomeness leading up to it. It just covers all bases in almost every way. I honestly can't put into words just awesome this was.
The Bad: I was only really disappointed by a 2 things in this movie:
1. The complete lack of War Machine. After his creation in Iron Man 2, I was expecting Rody to be recruited along with Tony Stark and help out with some of high tech fights. It's not like there's some massive hole in the movie because of this, and I didn't mind it that much, but I think War Machine would've been a nice touch. Odds are he'll be in one of the sequels though, so it should be fine.
2. Hawkeye got sold a bit short. Now, in a movie with this many superheroes and strong personalities, someone was bound to be a kinda understated, and, not surprisingly, this was Hawkeye. It was probably because he's the only character that hasn't been in another Marvel movie before this, save for 30 second cameo in Thor, so yeah. Now, I like Jeremy Renner, I think he's a great actor and he does a good and pretty badass job with what he's given, so I was a little disappointed by his more minor role. But hey, there's always the sequel, and either way I'm looking forward to seeing him in the Bourne Legacy.
I would say I'm upset Red Skull wasn't here either, but seeing how it'd be too much to ask for both Loki and Red Skull in one movie and the fact that he'll almost definitely be in the sequel, I didn't get too upset by it.
Am I onboard with this movie? Hell yeah! With this franchise? Hell yeah! With Marvel in general right now? Hell yeah! Is this the greatest superhero movie ever? Can't say yet just because the Dark Knight Rises isn't out yet, but it's at least in the top 5. Is this awesome? HELL YEAH!
Final Rating: 96%
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In A Nutshell: So, this is basically the culmination of everything Marvel has spent the last 50 years working towards. It was a total gamble at first, making a bunch of movies all leading up to this, a crossover between them, but it most definitely payed off. The plot? Loki, the Thor's demigod adopted brother last seen falling into a sort of inter dimensional void, is back, and he wants to lead an army of aliens to conquer the earth. But, he needs a cube that SHIELD, the previously introduced enigmatic government agency, has. So he comes to earth, takes it, and he's going to use it to bring his army here. So, SHIELD has to activate the Avengers Initiative, calling upon a group of remarkable people to fight the battles they can't. Who are these remarkable people? Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. Let the epicness begin.
The Good:Just about everything here. The storyline itself is really good, if kinda basic. But you don't realize that just because of how epic everything is, and you don't want it to end. Now, when all these strong personalities meet and collide, the movie doesn't take the easy, corny way out by having them all be like "oh let's all work together and save the earth because we're such good souls." They have them argue with each other, with personalities clashing, most notably the no nonsense Cap and fun and games Iron Man. This alone was fun to watch.
Heck, all the characters themselves are great. Joss Whedon, who wrote and directed the film, does a great job with what he does best: having a bunch of different people have to come together and face a task only they can complete. And he does a great job with all these characters. Tony Stark is the perfect character for him to write for, Cap is much better here than in his own movie, Thor is fun to watch, Back Widow is the strong female role Whedon is known for, heck, even the Hulk is great here, same Nick Fury and Agent Coleson. And you can really tell Whedon is a great writer when he can have Pepper Pots be the devoted girlfriend in a way that doesn't seem incredibly sexist.
Among all these awesome heroes is some believable, often hysterical dialogue, spoken by a group of amazing, A list actors in the primes of there careers who do great jobs with what they're given (Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johanasson, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffallo who is a much Hulk then Edward Norton, Gwenyth Paltrow, and Jeremy Renner.)
Loki is also a really awesome villain, his being believable and badass.
The special effects and sound are just indescribable, making the movie visually stunning and realistic in terms of sound quality, all of which is enhanced by Whedon's amazing directing.
And then you've got the last 30 minutes of the movie, which is massive action/final epic scene, and may just be the greatest fight in the history super hero movies. Now, every action scene here is incredible, but seriously, the last half hour alone is amazing and could be it's own thing, and then you've got 1 hour and 50 minutes of kick ass awesomeness leading up to it. It just covers all bases in almost every way. I honestly can't put into words just awesome this was.
The Bad: I was only really disappointed by a 2 things in this movie:
1. The complete lack of War Machine. After his creation in Iron Man 2, I was expecting Rody to be recruited along with Tony Stark and help out with some of high tech fights. It's not like there's some massive hole in the movie because of this, and I didn't mind it that much, but I think War Machine would've been a nice touch. Odds are he'll be in one of the sequels though, so it should be fine.
2. Hawkeye got sold a bit short. Now, in a movie with this many superheroes and strong personalities, someone was bound to be a kinda understated, and, not surprisingly, this was Hawkeye. It was probably because he's the only character that hasn't been in another Marvel movie before this, save for 30 second cameo in Thor, so yeah. Now, I like Jeremy Renner, I think he's a great actor and he does a good and pretty badass job with what he's given, so I was a little disappointed by his more minor role. But hey, there's always the sequel, and either way I'm looking forward to seeing him in the Bourne Legacy.
I would say I'm upset Red Skull wasn't here either, but seeing how it'd be too much to ask for both Loki and Red Skull in one movie and the fact that he'll almost definitely be in the sequel, I didn't get too upset by it.
Am I onboard with this movie? Hell yeah! With this franchise? Hell yeah! With Marvel in general right now? Hell yeah! Is this the greatest superhero movie ever? Can't say yet just because the Dark Knight Rises isn't out yet, but it's at least in the top 5. Is this awesome? HELL YEAH!
Final Rating: 96%
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Top 10 Worst Sci Fi/ Fantasy Shows
Awhile back I posted my choices for the top ten best sci fi and fantasy shows (which I intend to update and repost before the end of the year, click the link at the bottom to read it) so, I've decided to post this one too. It's pretty self explanatory, and I'm only doing show's I've seen, so if you think something is missing, please spare me the trolling. Let's get started.
10. Awake
This just premiered this year as part of NBC's "high concept" initiative, and I can honestly say that it's a terrible start to that plan. It centers around Detective Michael Britten, who, following a car crash, lives in 2 realities, one where his wife survived the crash and son didn't, and the other where it's the other way around. That sounds cool, and pilot was actually pretty good, but after that it quickly devolved into the latest in a long line of very formulaic, very repetitious, very tedious crime dramas with a twist. I want to like it, but the part of me that hates redundant cop shows (which is all of me) just can't.
9. The Prisoner (AMC version)
So, this was AMC's remake of the 1960s British miniseries. I love AMC, too. Between Breaking Bad and the Walking Dead, what's not to like? Oh, yeah, this show. It's about a man named 6, who finds himself in a mysterious village where everyone has numbers for names and no knowledge of the outside world's existence. He remembers the outside world, just not how he ended up in the village. This is a good concept, it was just done really badly, so poorly that no matter how much I wanted to get behind it, I just couldn't even with actors like Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen.
8. Haven
This is another one of those shows that I want to like, I really do, and I did for parts of season 1, but then season 2 just kinda fell apart. SyFy's show based on Stephen King's The Colorado Kid (which I note got bad reviews), Haven is about FBI agent Audrey Parker, who chases a killer to Haven, Maine. She has to stay awhile after getting some info regarding a woman who might be her mother. She joins up with the Haven PD, and they keep dealing with folks who can do weird stuff, called the Troubled. A lot of season 1 was kinda mediocre, but there were enough good moments to keep watching, and I was hoping season 2 would improve things. I was wrong. It just got really predictable and boring, and I and I quickly realized it wasn't worth my time.
7. Alcatraz
WHY JJ ABRAMS?! WHY?! Yep, I was, for the first time ever, upset by JJ Abrams. He created this, and I had high hopes, only to be sorely disappointed. So, in 1963, all the prisoners and guards on Alcatraz prison vanished, and in 2012, they start coming back, and a government task force starts tracking them down. It sounds good, but it got into this really annoying formula pretty quickly. The episodes just had these really bland stories that not only felt annoying, but clearly weren't meant to sustain a 45 minute episode and spent more time developing the villain of the week then the actual main characters. Dammit JJ!
6. No Ordinary Family
It is with great reluctance that I put this here. I actually thought this show about a family that gets super powers after surviving a plane crash was pretty good at first, until I realized that just about everything they were doing in terms of storytelling was a not-so-cleverly-disguised combo of "Stole this from Heroes" and "Stole this from Smallville" I think it got cancelled because the network was afraid they'd get sued.
5. Caprica
Prequel to BSG focusing on the creation of the Cylons. Sounds good, right? Wrong! I've never actually seen BSG so maybe some of this is lost on me, but the excessive melodrama and almost complete lack of action just made it feel like a prime time soap opera with a few walking chrome toasters. And it was really weird. Oh, and here's my favorite example of why I hate it: they spend the entire series developing a character who you think is Bill Adamas, but he really isn't! In fact, he has zero impact on BSG whatsoever! This show deserves to be here if only because it made me feel like I had just wasted an absurd amount of time.
4. The Event
NBC's answer to Lost, focusing on a government conspiracy involving aliens and an average guy who gets caught up in it actually started out really good. And then we got past episode 7, and it pretty much fell off a cliff. The show was good when it was complex and unpredictable. And there lies the problem: less than halfway through, it got incredibly predictable. And honestly all the characters were starting to get really annoying.
3. SyFy Original Movies
If you've ever watched the SyFy channel then you've seen some ads for these. So, instead of spending there resources developing new great shows or adding to the budget of there already existing good shows (cough cough, Warehouse 13), the SyFy channel has decided to spend their money making terrible TV movies with awful plots, awful acting, awful special effects, and a budget of $2 million each. The only thing I will say in favor of these is they're somehow better then the crappy reality shows the channel seems enamored with (That's right Ghost Hunters! I'm pointing at you!)
2. Terra Nova
The show is about people from a future where we've polluted the crap out of the Earth so they go back in time to dinosaur land to start a new life! It's a classic example of a show that starts off with a slick pilot episode and then proceeds to fall off a cliff into a pit of lava. The problem? Terrible stories that were predictable, corny, and filled with contrived character actions. The was given every chance to succeed too, and I high hopes for it; good time slot, good special effects, the bad guy from Avatar. What we didn't expect was crappy writing and even worse characters. Let me put it this way: it wasn't too long before the guns started look more plastic then they did before.
And now for number one. I would say that numbers one and two are interchangeable (they're both very bad) but Terra Nova at least had 1 good episode, something the show I put in first can't even say.
And the worst sci fi or fantasy show of all time is...
1. Land of the Lost
A couple of kids and there dad fall down a waterfall and end up in a weird alternate dimension full of clay dinosaurs, lizard-things called Sleestacks, and the missing link between man and ape. If you think the Will Ferrel movie of the same name was bad, you've never seen this. This was as corny as it gets. I am talking horrible acting, breath-takingly bad stories, and the worst special effects TV has ever borne witness to. Even Star Trek had better effects, an it was on ten years earlier. The bottom line: this is at number 1 because it really, really sucks.
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10. Awake
This just premiered this year as part of NBC's "high concept" initiative, and I can honestly say that it's a terrible start to that plan. It centers around Detective Michael Britten, who, following a car crash, lives in 2 realities, one where his wife survived the crash and son didn't, and the other where it's the other way around. That sounds cool, and pilot was actually pretty good, but after that it quickly devolved into the latest in a long line of very formulaic, very repetitious, very tedious crime dramas with a twist. I want to like it, but the part of me that hates redundant cop shows (which is all of me) just can't.
9. The Prisoner (AMC version)
So, this was AMC's remake of the 1960s British miniseries. I love AMC, too. Between Breaking Bad and the Walking Dead, what's not to like? Oh, yeah, this show. It's about a man named 6, who finds himself in a mysterious village where everyone has numbers for names and no knowledge of the outside world's existence. He remembers the outside world, just not how he ended up in the village. This is a good concept, it was just done really badly, so poorly that no matter how much I wanted to get behind it, I just couldn't even with actors like Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen.
8. Haven
This is another one of those shows that I want to like, I really do, and I did for parts of season 1, but then season 2 just kinda fell apart. SyFy's show based on Stephen King's The Colorado Kid (which I note got bad reviews), Haven is about FBI agent Audrey Parker, who chases a killer to Haven, Maine. She has to stay awhile after getting some info regarding a woman who might be her mother. She joins up with the Haven PD, and they keep dealing with folks who can do weird stuff, called the Troubled. A lot of season 1 was kinda mediocre, but there were enough good moments to keep watching, and I was hoping season 2 would improve things. I was wrong. It just got really predictable and boring, and I and I quickly realized it wasn't worth my time.
7. Alcatraz
WHY JJ ABRAMS?! WHY?! Yep, I was, for the first time ever, upset by JJ Abrams. He created this, and I had high hopes, only to be sorely disappointed. So, in 1963, all the prisoners and guards on Alcatraz prison vanished, and in 2012, they start coming back, and a government task force starts tracking them down. It sounds good, but it got into this really annoying formula pretty quickly. The episodes just had these really bland stories that not only felt annoying, but clearly weren't meant to sustain a 45 minute episode and spent more time developing the villain of the week then the actual main characters. Dammit JJ!
6. No Ordinary Family
It is with great reluctance that I put this here. I actually thought this show about a family that gets super powers after surviving a plane crash was pretty good at first, until I realized that just about everything they were doing in terms of storytelling was a not-so-cleverly-disguised combo of "Stole this from Heroes" and "Stole this from Smallville" I think it got cancelled because the network was afraid they'd get sued.
5. Caprica
Prequel to BSG focusing on the creation of the Cylons. Sounds good, right? Wrong! I've never actually seen BSG so maybe some of this is lost on me, but the excessive melodrama and almost complete lack of action just made it feel like a prime time soap opera with a few walking chrome toasters. And it was really weird. Oh, and here's my favorite example of why I hate it: they spend the entire series developing a character who you think is Bill Adamas, but he really isn't! In fact, he has zero impact on BSG whatsoever! This show deserves to be here if only because it made me feel like I had just wasted an absurd amount of time.
4. The Event
NBC's answer to Lost, focusing on a government conspiracy involving aliens and an average guy who gets caught up in it actually started out really good. And then we got past episode 7, and it pretty much fell off a cliff. The show was good when it was complex and unpredictable. And there lies the problem: less than halfway through, it got incredibly predictable. And honestly all the characters were starting to get really annoying.
3. SyFy Original Movies
If you've ever watched the SyFy channel then you've seen some ads for these. So, instead of spending there resources developing new great shows or adding to the budget of there already existing good shows (cough cough, Warehouse 13), the SyFy channel has decided to spend their money making terrible TV movies with awful plots, awful acting, awful special effects, and a budget of $2 million each. The only thing I will say in favor of these is they're somehow better then the crappy reality shows the channel seems enamored with (That's right Ghost Hunters! I'm pointing at you!)
2. Terra Nova
The show is about people from a future where we've polluted the crap out of the Earth so they go back in time to dinosaur land to start a new life! It's a classic example of a show that starts off with a slick pilot episode and then proceeds to fall off a cliff into a pit of lava. The problem? Terrible stories that were predictable, corny, and filled with contrived character actions. The was given every chance to succeed too, and I high hopes for it; good time slot, good special effects, the bad guy from Avatar. What we didn't expect was crappy writing and even worse characters. Let me put it this way: it wasn't too long before the guns started look more plastic then they did before.
And now for number one. I would say that numbers one and two are interchangeable (they're both very bad) but Terra Nova at least had 1 good episode, something the show I put in first can't even say.
And the worst sci fi or fantasy show of all time is...
1. Land of the Lost
A couple of kids and there dad fall down a waterfall and end up in a weird alternate dimension full of clay dinosaurs, lizard-things called Sleestacks, and the missing link between man and ape. If you think the Will Ferrel movie of the same name was bad, you've never seen this. This was as corny as it gets. I am talking horrible acting, breath-takingly bad stories, and the worst special effects TV has ever borne witness to. Even Star Trek had better effects, an it was on ten years earlier. The bottom line: this is at number 1 because it really, really sucks.
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Friday, May 4, 2012
Announcement
Okay, I know I said in a previous that I would post my top ten superhero movies after I review the Avengers (seeing it tonight, wooo!!!) BUT, I've decided to put it off for a few months because of the two major comic book title being released this summer in The Dark Knight Rises and Amazing Spider Man, both of which could potentially work there way on, and I just don't feel like reposting it a million times.
Movie Reviewed: Luther
Okay, so let me just say this right now: this is not like most of the movies I review on this website. I just watched this in history class (I'm only 15) and I liked it and decided to post a review, if only to prove that because I feel like establishing that I have taste that goes beyond action/adventure.
In A Nutshell: This is an indie film from about 2003 centering around the life and work of 1500s work and reformation leader Martin Luther. It goes from when he became a monk in 1505 and ends in 1520 when his goals were accomplished. What are his goals? Fed up with corruption and commercialism in the church, he takes a stand and goes against his superiors to spread his beliefs that you can't buy God's love, everyone should be able to read the bible, the church is just plain is messed up, and we all need to have a little faith.
The Good: I expected this to be just another one of those movies I watch in school and I just spend the whole time humming the jeopardy theme music. I was quite mistaken. First off, everything looks authentic. The clothes, the sets, the whole nine yards, it all looked like the 1500s, which got really enhanced by the directing. On top the that, the script was really good, and you know what, you root for this guy, this frazzled, meek little man who just wants stand up for his beliefs. Joseph Fiennes plays Luther, and he OWNS this role. He was perfectly cast, as was everyone else in this movie. Plus, every character has something to do and they do it well. Even Luther's wife does a great job, and she's only onscreen for the last 20 minutes of the movie. In general, this was just really good, and it did what a lot of movies fail to do: make you root for the main character not because he's a badass, but because he's doing what's right. Plus, Alfred Molina.
The Bad: My only real beef with this was that it's not the type of movie I would usually go out and rent on my own. Besides that, I got nothing.
Once again, this was a great movie, and if you feel like watching a non-actioner with a lot of depth, this is the one for you just as long as your not insulted by the existence of religion.
Final Rating: 93%
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In A Nutshell: This is an indie film from about 2003 centering around the life and work of 1500s work and reformation leader Martin Luther. It goes from when he became a monk in 1505 and ends in 1520 when his goals were accomplished. What are his goals? Fed up with corruption and commercialism in the church, he takes a stand and goes against his superiors to spread his beliefs that you can't buy God's love, everyone should be able to read the bible, the church is just plain is messed up, and we all need to have a little faith.
The Good: I expected this to be just another one of those movies I watch in school and I just spend the whole time humming the jeopardy theme music. I was quite mistaken. First off, everything looks authentic. The clothes, the sets, the whole nine yards, it all looked like the 1500s, which got really enhanced by the directing. On top the that, the script was really good, and you know what, you root for this guy, this frazzled, meek little man who just wants stand up for his beliefs. Joseph Fiennes plays Luther, and he OWNS this role. He was perfectly cast, as was everyone else in this movie. Plus, every character has something to do and they do it well. Even Luther's wife does a great job, and she's only onscreen for the last 20 minutes of the movie. In general, this was just really good, and it did what a lot of movies fail to do: make you root for the main character not because he's a badass, but because he's doing what's right. Plus, Alfred Molina.
The Bad: My only real beef with this was that it's not the type of movie I would usually go out and rent on my own. Besides that, I got nothing.
Once again, this was a great movie, and if you feel like watching a non-actioner with a lot of depth, this is the one for you just as long as your not insulted by the existence of religion.
Final Rating: 93%
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Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The Dark Knight Rises 3rd Trailer Review
WHY DOES THIS MOVIE COME OUT IN JULY! The trailer kicked serious tail.
New Info: Catwoman is only sort of a villain here. My guess is she's a bad guy until Bane arrives and then she just starts thinking "Okay, we need to get rid of this guy." Joseph Gordon Levitt's character is also pretty important, apparently, as he makes several appearances. It's also implied that at the end, Batman is going to either be dead or in a wheelchair.
The Good: Just about everything about it. It starts off eerie, and then gets really intense. You just have a sense that stuff is going down.
The Bad: I got nothing.
Predictions: Bane will do his back-breaker thing on Batman, Catwoman kills Bane, Levitt's character will, at the end, become either Robin or Batman Beyond. Before that will be 2 and a half solid hours of dark, intense, and thrilling action coupled with a surprisingly smart and complex plot (so pretty much like everything else Christopher Nolan makes)
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS MOVIE!!!!!
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Trailer anyone?
New Info: Catwoman is only sort of a villain here. My guess is she's a bad guy until Bane arrives and then she just starts thinking "Okay, we need to get rid of this guy." Joseph Gordon Levitt's character is also pretty important, apparently, as he makes several appearances. It's also implied that at the end, Batman is going to either be dead or in a wheelchair.
The Good: Just about everything about it. It starts off eerie, and then gets really intense. You just have a sense that stuff is going down.
The Bad: I got nothing.
Predictions: Bane will do his back-breaker thing on Batman, Catwoman kills Bane, Levitt's character will, at the end, become either Robin or Batman Beyond. Before that will be 2 and a half solid hours of dark, intense, and thrilling action coupled with a surprisingly smart and complex plot (so pretty much like everything else Christopher Nolan makes)
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS MOVIE!!!!!
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Trailer anyone?
Movie Reviewed: The X Files I Want to Believe
I knew I had to do this review now on account of the Avengers comes out soon and if I post this review after that review, no one will care. Anyway, today I'm giving you my take on 2008's "The X Files I Want to Believe" the kinda polarizing film that called Mulder and Scully back in to action after six years.
In A Nutshell: So, the film is based on the hit TV series The X Files, which ran for 9 seasons on FOX. It takes place six years after the events of the series finale "The Truth" (Worst. Finale. Ever.) Scully is now a practicing doctor at a Catholic run hospital in Virginia, and, not surprisingly, Mulder is a recluse. Even less surprisingly, there still together, sharing a house outside of obvious detection. Meanwhile, FBI agent Monica Bannan is missing, and the search to find her is ongoing. Former priest Father Joe claims a psychic connection to her, saying he has visions of her from God telling her where she is, and a big part of the movie is debating whether this guy is for real or bogus. Because of the supernatural aspect to the case, the FBI brings Mulder in to help validate Father Joe, which brings Scully in by connection. This is basically an old fashion type of thriller, relying on the mystery and eerie cinematography rather than explosions, and at the same time it's also a character study, showing how Mulder and Scully have changed (and stayed the same) since we last saw them in an episode nobody actually watched, with faith being a major theme throughout.
The Good: Let me first say that I'm writing this as a fan of the show. Overall, I really liked the mystery going on here. I thought it was entertaining, compelling, and just a little bit eerie, and it kept me watching all the way through. As for the character study aspect, I thought it was really done, and the way the movie analyzes our favorite former federal agents helped us get to know them a little more and added a layer to the film. Plus, the way they both behave all these years and cases later is very believable. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are still great in these roles, and pretty much everyone one else here is doing some top notch acting. Chris Carter, the guy who created the show, directed and co-wrote it. Let me say this about the directing: it rocks. Seriously, Carter pulled out all the stops here and this directing was just amazing. They also bring back almost everyone from the show, even Skinner (not Dogget and Reyes, obviously, seeing how no one liked them)
The Bad: I get that this was a really polarizing movie, especially for fans of the show. That's mostly because instead of revisiting the alien mythology that spanned the series, they're just doing a really long monster of the week episode. It is a good monster of the week, but I think people who payed to see it (I didn't) felt ripped off. It also might be the lack of epicness that gets people, but the show as never about being epic. I actually found the old fashioned feel refreshing, and I'm someone who grew up on explosion-filled thrillers. I also think that while Skinner's appearance was kinda cool, it probably wasn't necessary. I don't really know what else to say beyond opinions vary.
The Bottom Line: Am I on board with the is movie? Yes. Is it the best thing the X Files has ever done? No, that's still "Little Green Men." Is it all that memorable as sci fi movies go? Probably not. But is it an enjoyable, self contained mystery? Yes, but I think whether or not you like it depends on who you usually are when it comes to movies. Do I want a third X Files movie? That'd be cool.
Final Rating: 85%
Be sure to comment, subscribe, and check out my other posts!
In A Nutshell: So, the film is based on the hit TV series The X Files, which ran for 9 seasons on FOX. It takes place six years after the events of the series finale "The Truth" (Worst. Finale. Ever.) Scully is now a practicing doctor at a Catholic run hospital in Virginia, and, not surprisingly, Mulder is a recluse. Even less surprisingly, there still together, sharing a house outside of obvious detection. Meanwhile, FBI agent Monica Bannan is missing, and the search to find her is ongoing. Former priest Father Joe claims a psychic connection to her, saying he has visions of her from God telling her where she is, and a big part of the movie is debating whether this guy is for real or bogus. Because of the supernatural aspect to the case, the FBI brings Mulder in to help validate Father Joe, which brings Scully in by connection. This is basically an old fashion type of thriller, relying on the mystery and eerie cinematography rather than explosions, and at the same time it's also a character study, showing how Mulder and Scully have changed (and stayed the same) since we last saw them in an episode nobody actually watched, with faith being a major theme throughout.
The Good: Let me first say that I'm writing this as a fan of the show. Overall, I really liked the mystery going on here. I thought it was entertaining, compelling, and just a little bit eerie, and it kept me watching all the way through. As for the character study aspect, I thought it was really done, and the way the movie analyzes our favorite former federal agents helped us get to know them a little more and added a layer to the film. Plus, the way they both behave all these years and cases later is very believable. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are still great in these roles, and pretty much everyone one else here is doing some top notch acting. Chris Carter, the guy who created the show, directed and co-wrote it. Let me say this about the directing: it rocks. Seriously, Carter pulled out all the stops here and this directing was just amazing. They also bring back almost everyone from the show, even Skinner (not Dogget and Reyes, obviously, seeing how no one liked them)
The Bad: I get that this was a really polarizing movie, especially for fans of the show. That's mostly because instead of revisiting the alien mythology that spanned the series, they're just doing a really long monster of the week episode. It is a good monster of the week, but I think people who payed to see it (I didn't) felt ripped off. It also might be the lack of epicness that gets people, but the show as never about being epic. I actually found the old fashioned feel refreshing, and I'm someone who grew up on explosion-filled thrillers. I also think that while Skinner's appearance was kinda cool, it probably wasn't necessary. I don't really know what else to say beyond opinions vary.
The Bottom Line: Am I on board with the is movie? Yes. Is it the best thing the X Files has ever done? No, that's still "Little Green Men." Is it all that memorable as sci fi movies go? Probably not. But is it an enjoyable, self contained mystery? Yes, but I think whether or not you like it depends on who you usually are when it comes to movies. Do I want a third X Files movie? That'd be cool.
Final Rating: 85%
Be sure to comment, subscribe, and check out my other posts!
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