So the past couple days have been awesome, you guys!
Glee
Holy crap!!! The mash ups were excellent and so fun. I loved all the crazy "mash ups" of the adult couples. But best of all was Jane Lynch's dialogue. That's what's brilliant about the show other than the music: the witty, insane, off-the-wall dialogue!
Cougar Town
Disappointing. That is all.
Modern Family
I loved all the relationships going on but most of all Alex and Gloria bonding and Claire and Manny. Manny offers advice to Claire, who is considerably older than him (since he's what...ten?), which in itself is hilarious that she takes him so seriously. I'm madly in lvoe with this show and its dry humor.
South Park
I was hoping this would happen, and it did. Figures Cartman would be a Billy Mays fan and that Michael Jackson would hold everyone up in Purgatory. I was disappointed, though, that Bea Arthur didn't have any lines. Even Swayze had a line! Somehow, South Park combines so much criticism all in one episode: child beauty pageants, ghost hunters, infomercials, Chipotle-induced bloody stool, and dead celebrities. It all blended well together; I loved the beauty pageant and Chipotle jokes. And Ike has had more lines than ever. And he sounded like he was starting to get older! Exciting!
Dead celebrities include: Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Patrick Swayze, Natasha Richardson, Billy Mays, Bea Arthur, Tom DeLuise, Ted Kennedy, John Hughes, Walter Cronkite, Ed McMahon, David Carradine, and Les Paul.
Community
Meh. This show is still not impressing me, although I did like the bonding between Jeff and Shirley. By far the best part, making me roll on the floor laughing, especially at the small nipples part. Coming in close is the credits with Troy and Abed doing something stupid or insane.
Parks & Recreation
This show is impressing me like crazy. I love everyone on the cast. I think it's less interesting that Tom is married to a bombshell only so she could get her green card since she was from Canada. Leslie was adorably hilarious, especially with all her date screw-ups. I hope there's more on the DVD's deleted scenes. So far every one of April's lines this season have had me crying from laughing so hard. It's the "less is more" tactic. She was great last week, but this week her last line on the episode was so fantastic about her being completely ignored by her co-workers and she's done the most outrageous things. The office's competition to see who had the least dirt on them in case any of them ran for office was brilliant. This show is quickly climbing to the top of my top show list.
The Office
You guys, this is was I was hoping for! Again, I hope there's more dancing on the DVD's deleted scenes, since the dancing makes me crack up. The episode had the right mixture of suspense, hilarity, romance, awkwardness, and DANCING! And Andy's sexuality comes into play again, as he now has a possible Oedipal complex on top of his possible homosexuality and flirtation with his lady cousin. But really, Andy really was awesome in his orange clothes and his injury. Kevin and Oscar--a couple...could it happen? Also very funny. I love how the cast copied the wedding party entrance video. So good, especially when Dwight kicks his ex-lover in the face and Angela walks down the isle stiffly. I think this episode worked out well for everyone and really shined in characterization. I also think the beginning was one of the best and grossest openings yet. The chain reaction had me cackling like a witch on helium. Good job, Pam!
Supernatural
Paris Hilton gets her head chopped off. Nice. It's like older episodes where they are standalones and there's demon problems that arise in small towns all over the U.S. The brothers are back in full swing. It's funny: Supernatural tends to have a lot of social criticism these days. This episode's is celebrity idolatry. And I love the snarky reference to House of Wax as Paris and Jared are in the same scene together. Hilarious. Big swollen thumbs up to this episode.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Awesome episode tonight. The gang tries to intervene with Fran's drug and alcohol problem, and as they do, they all find fault with each other and try to have interventions with every character. It turns into a sloppy fiasco. Surprisingly the intervention director doesn't fall off the edge with them or try to intervene in all their lives, since they all are now drinking wine out of a diet cola can because it doesn't spill and no one can tell you're drinking wine. I think I might try that...
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Awesome Movie Highlight: No. 6--Atonement
Atonement
This movie. Agh! This movie! Its cinematography is truly the best part of it. Keira Knightly in the green dress? Hell yes! The story is heartbreaking and intriguing. Ironic fate weaves a story of a love that can never quite be due to circumstances beyond their control: lies and war. You guys, check it out!
“Dearest Cecilia, the story can resume. The one I had been planning on that evening walk. I can become again the man who once crossed the surrey park at dusk, in my best suit, swaggering on the promise of life. The man who, with the clarity of passion, made love to you in the library. The story can resume. I will return. Find you, love you, marry you and live without shame.” How can you not fall in love with that dialogue?! How?!
This movie. Agh! This movie! Its cinematography is truly the best part of it. Keira Knightly in the green dress? Hell yes! The story is heartbreaking and intriguing. Ironic fate weaves a story of a love that can never quite be due to circumstances beyond their control: lies and war. You guys, check it out!
“Dearest Cecilia, the story can resume. The one I had been planning on that evening walk. I can become again the man who once crossed the surrey park at dusk, in my best suit, swaggering on the promise of life. The man who, with the clarity of passion, made love to you in the library. The story can resume. I will return. Find you, love you, marry you and live without shame.” How can you not fall in love with that dialogue?! How?!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Things That Annoy Me: Celebrity Gossip Shows
Celebrity gossip shows. Why do these exist? Access Hollywood, Extra, whatever else there is…I’m watching the news, don’t pay attention when commercials come on and all of the sudden obnoxious sounds are blaring into my ears, like a mix of howler monkeys, malfunctioning machines, pooping babies, and rocket ships, interchanging with strange voices that mock news anchors in a William Shatner voice. I cringe in utter annoyance and run to the TV to turn it off. Why do I care about celebrities’ personal lives unless I actually know them? I don’t care who’s married or who’s cheated on whom. I didn’t even know who these John and Kate people were until a few months ago when John was having an affair and it’s was all over the news (REALLY?! National News?!).
Reviewing Readings: Final Crisis
I normally wouldn't pick up DC Comics, though Wonder Woman looks pretty good. (I just don't want to pick up another comic right now. In fact, I might drop Cable because it seems to be going nowhere.) I picked it out to sample DC in the arc that "killed Batman" when picking out books to review in Reviewers of Young Adult Literature. We send our reviews to publishers; after all that's why they send them to us! I then saw that Grant Morrison wrote it. I was never a fan of his twisted, convoluted storylines and odd characterizations when he took over X-Men. Here's what I wrote for the summary and criticism:
In the Final Crisis arc, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the JLA and DC characters team up against the ultimate evil: Darkseid, who declares himself a god and possesses the human population and superhumans to do his will and worship him. While simultaneous plots of murdering the New Gods, framing Green Lantern Hal Jordan, using Wonder Woman, Catwoman, Batwoman, and Giganta as furies, Apokolips is trying to build a superhuman army, the Daily Planet is bombed and Lois Lane’s life is in danger, and the evil masterminds plot together to take down the superheroes once and for all, Darkseid attempts to overthrow reality. Really.
Because there’s so much going on in the arc, the story actually lacks well-developed plot and characterization, other than maybe Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and Superman. It’s confusing and not entertaining. If anything it’s really a power struggle to be God between Superman and Darkseid. Grant Morrison has never been great at storytelling, and this proves that he can’t handle a big event. Batman died, and I don’t even know how. If you want quality writing look to Marvel, where women are treated with respect and honored as being highly valued members of the superhuman community. Wonder Woman or Supergirl didn’t even make it onto the hardback cover, beautiful though it is. I don’t recommend it unless you’re a huge DC fan or maybe if you read all the tie-ins, then perhaps it might make sense. A well constructed comic consists not only of good writing but of good art that assists the story. In this story, neither exist. The art jumps around and seems to skip panels, though visually stunning some panels may be.
In the Final Crisis arc, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the JLA and DC characters team up against the ultimate evil: Darkseid, who declares himself a god and possesses the human population and superhumans to do his will and worship him. While simultaneous plots of murdering the New Gods, framing Green Lantern Hal Jordan, using Wonder Woman, Catwoman, Batwoman, and Giganta as furies, Apokolips is trying to build a superhuman army, the Daily Planet is bombed and Lois Lane’s life is in danger, and the evil masterminds plot together to take down the superheroes once and for all, Darkseid attempts to overthrow reality. Really.Because there’s so much going on in the arc, the story actually lacks well-developed plot and characterization, other than maybe Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and Superman. It’s confusing and not entertaining. If anything it’s really a power struggle to be God between Superman and Darkseid. Grant Morrison has never been great at storytelling, and this proves that he can’t handle a big event. Batman died, and I don’t even know how. If you want quality writing look to Marvel, where women are treated with respect and honored as being highly valued members of the superhuman community. Wonder Woman or Supergirl didn’t even make it onto the hardback cover, beautiful though it is. I don’t recommend it unless you’re a huge DC fan or maybe if you read all the tie-ins, then perhaps it might make sense. A well constructed comic consists not only of good writing but of good art that assists the story. In this story, neither exist. The art jumps around and seems to skip panels, though visually stunning some panels may be.
Awesome Movie Highlight: No. 7--The Wind That Shakes the Barley
The Wind That Shakes the Barley
This movie makes me so angry and so sad at the same time. It’s a film I hold dear to me, as a subject I study closely on both sides: the Irish and English war that’s been nearly non-stop for centuries and has largely been ignored outside the British Isles. This particular snapshot takes place during the Rebellion of the 1920s. I won’t talk about my stance on the subject, as it’s an awfully controversial subject and not really for a nerdy blog. To talk about the technical aspects of the film… It’s a perfect realism film. There’s only maybe one or two scenes that do have score to them, but the rest is natural music made on screen. Dialogue is the most realistic and natural in its delivery. There’s stumbling, stuttering, pure emotion, and seemingly improv at times. Cillian Murphy and co. are perfectly cast, especially Liam Cunningham.
“Mercenaries! That were paid to come over here to make us crawl and to wipe us out. We've just sent a message to the British cabinet that will echo and reverberate around the world! If they bring their savagery over here, we will meet it with a savagery of our own!”
This movie makes me so angry and so sad at the same time. It’s a film I hold dear to me, as a subject I study closely on both sides: the Irish and English war that’s been nearly non-stop for centuries and has largely been ignored outside the British Isles. This particular snapshot takes place during the Rebellion of the 1920s. I won’t talk about my stance on the subject, as it’s an awfully controversial subject and not really for a nerdy blog. To talk about the technical aspects of the film… It’s a perfect realism film. There’s only maybe one or two scenes that do have score to them, but the rest is natural music made on screen. Dialogue is the most realistic and natural in its delivery. There’s stumbling, stuttering, pure emotion, and seemingly improv at times. Cillian Murphy and co. are perfectly cast, especially Liam Cunningham.
“Mercenaries! That were paid to come over here to make us crawl and to wipe us out. We've just sent a message to the British cabinet that will echo and reverberate around the world! If they bring their savagery over here, we will meet it with a savagery of our own!”
Friday, October 2, 2009
Awesome Movie Highlight: No. 8--Songcatcher
Songcatcher
Emmy Rossum debuts in this film about preserving the old British Isle tunes and preserving them with accuracy and heart. None knew how the songs originally sounded, but because of the seclusion of the Appalachian mountain folk, the songs are preserved in the form closest to their origin and in their purest form. The music makes the movie. It also shows us that sometimes scholars, those who are so highly regarded, are also the most ignorant of the subjects they specialize in. With themes of nature vs. urbanization, ignorance and intolerance vs. sexuality and individual freedom, responsibility vs. irresponsibility, formal education vs. experienced education, greed vs. happiness, among so many others, Songcatcher. PS--Check out all the soundtracks. Dolly Parton sings a self-penned duet with Rossum, and Sara Evans sings "Mary of the Wild Moor."
“Alice, you're gonna have to keep Reese away from you. Well, if you don't want butter, you gotta pull the dasher out in time.” -Viney Butler (Pat Carroll)
Emmy Rossum debuts in this film about preserving the old British Isle tunes and preserving them with accuracy and heart. None knew how the songs originally sounded, but because of the seclusion of the Appalachian mountain folk, the songs are preserved in the form closest to their origin and in their purest form. The music makes the movie. It also shows us that sometimes scholars, those who are so highly regarded, are also the most ignorant of the subjects they specialize in. With themes of nature vs. urbanization, ignorance and intolerance vs. sexuality and individual freedom, responsibility vs. irresponsibility, formal education vs. experienced education, greed vs. happiness, among so many others, Songcatcher. PS--Check out all the soundtracks. Dolly Parton sings a self-penned duet with Rossum, and Sara Evans sings "Mary of the Wild Moor."
“Alice, you're gonna have to keep Reese away from you. Well, if you don't want butter, you gotta pull the dasher out in time.” -Viney Butler (Pat Carroll)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Movie of the Week: Pandorum
The race to find a new planet due diminishing and extinct earth resources seem to be a popular theme these days, and Pandorum excels in this category. The film follows Ben Foster's character Bower and his supervisor Payton, played by Dennis Quaid, when they wake up from cryogenic freezing. In the thriller film, Pandorum is a disorder triggered by a reaction to space travel. Knowing that information leads us on a goose chase to figure out who has Pandorum. Not only is that going on, but there are creatures on board killing and eating everyone that moves. How did they get on board? What are they? We find out bits and pieces as we progress through the film. I was on edge the entire film and was very surprised in its ending. It's genius! I love the movie like crazy, and I can't wait to watch it again. It's one of those thrillers where the characters are intriguing and the plot intricate and layered.
And I can't not talk about the acting. Anything with Ben Foster is AMAZING, just because he makes it so. This guy....ah! He's a brilliant actor! And the newbie Antje Traue makes her mark on American cinema as Nadia, the uber-awesome badass that's been awake from frozen slumber for a few months. She knows the ropes on how to evade the creatures and how to protect life, as that was her original duty on board to carry Earth's habitation to the new planet. Dennis Quaid has always been an okay actor to me, and this continues to prove that. I mean, he's good, but not fantastic. He's the same character in every movie. But despite that, it's all still awesome. You guys! Go see this movie!
And I can't not talk about the acting. Anything with Ben Foster is AMAZING, just because he makes it so. This guy....ah! He's a brilliant actor! And the newbie Antje Traue makes her mark on American cinema as Nadia, the uber-awesome badass that's been awake from frozen slumber for a few months. She knows the ropes on how to evade the creatures and how to protect life, as that was her original duty on board to carry Earth's habitation to the new planet. Dennis Quaid has always been an okay actor to me, and this continues to prove that. I mean, he's good, but not fantastic. He's the same character in every movie. But despite that, it's all still awesome. You guys! Go see this movie!
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