Superbad

I have a running list of films that I’ve enjoyed but can’t recommend to most people. I don’t want young kids going to R rated films, even though most will find a way regardless. I love American Beauty, but there are some scenes that are a little disturbing. I laugh a lot during Kevin Smith films but the movie contains too many lewd or extreme scenes for the casual viewer. Superbad, like Knocked Up and The 40 Year Old Virgin before it, is another one of these movies. The film is rated 18A; and for good reason. Surprisingly enough, there is not much nudity; unless, of course you count the illustrated kind, in which there is a disturbingly large amount. The rating is clearly connected to the language, especially the descriptions of sex and other sexual activities. While it is somewhat shocking to hear that kind of talk for major chunks of the film, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that many teenage guys talk this way regularly. The makers of Superbad are shooting for some sense of realism, which is probably heightened a bit for maximum laughs.

What makes this film work so well are the performances of the gifted young actors. In previous blogs, I have complimented the fine work of Jonah Hill (Accpeted, Evan Almighty, Knocked Up), and he again does not disappoint. Hill plays the part of Seth passionately as he tries to get some sex before graduation. His determination is a little scary at times, but he offsets it beautifully with some great comedic timing. Hill is definitely the most crass of the bunch; most of the crude descriptions come pouring out of his mouth at an exponential rate. What’s even better than watching Hill, however, is seeing Michael Cera take the spotlight. Cera played George Michael on Arrested Development and was great at throwing in some hysterical quiet lines amidst the chaos while maintaining his geeky awkwardness. Those qualities are put centerstage in Superbad. Cera plays Evan, a kid who does not seem comfortable in his own skin. He plays the awkwardness like a pro but also manages to have an innocent playfulness about him. It is great fun to watch this kid try to be the mature and moral center of this group of outcasts.

Along with Hill and Cera, we get the B-story involving newcomer Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Fogell who gets busted using his McLovin fake Id and spends the night riding along with two inept cops played by Bill Hader and Seth Rogen. The scenes are over-the-top and nonsensical but are still funny thanks to these gifted comedians. Rogen plays his usual bumbling character and Hader is tapping into his stupidly cocky persona but Mintz-Plasse steals the show with his energy and great one-liners as the geekiest of geeks trying to play it cool.

Superbad is basically a raunchier version of American Pie and Dumb & Dumber. The audience has seen these types of storylines before but Superbad puts a fresh spin on the material. The Dumb & Dumber police story is not all that inventive but the American Pie-style party story is a bit different in that it has some heart. Superbad is produced by Judd Apatow who insists on adding some seriousness and morality to his crude comedies. In 40 Year Old Virign, Steve Carrell waits til marriage, in Knocked Up, Seth Rogen learns responisibility, and in Superbad, sex and drunkenness do not go hand in hand. Of all these recent comedies, I would say that Superbad has the least heart; the producers try for the moral highground, but you have to wade through a lot more rude jokes to get there. However, the relationship between Seth and Evan is well-written and does evoke some empathy as the film progresses. You do find yourself invested in their relationship, which is a good thing.

So should see this movie? If you’ve enjoyed 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, I don’t see why you wouldn’t like Superbad. If you are easily offended by crude sexual talk, you should probably avoid this movie like the plague. This one is definitely going on my running list. If you love the movie, you’re welcome; if you’re offended, you were warned.

Rush Hour 3

I believe Rush Hour 3 is the last of the summer threequels. It’s unfortunate that it fell a week after the critically-adored Bourne Ultimatum. I’m sure the comparisons have hurt the film a little, but Rush Hour 3 is not as bad as critics would have you believe. It does have the same humour and storyline as the previous two films; so if you liked the first two Rush Hours, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t like the third.

The only reason to watch this franchise is to see the chemistry between Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, and watch some well-choreographed action. Well, Rush Hour 3 delivers these elements again. The chemistry is still there, though not as funny as the first one. Their bond is stronger now but the film continues with its racial profiling especially in a lame montage where they order food from their partner’s ‘culture’. Their singing and dancing is mined for laughs yet again; some parts fun, some parts predictable, and some parts bizarre. The action is intense at times, especially on the Eiffel Tower; but you can tell that Jackie Chan is not as limber as he was nine years ago.

The nice addition to Rush Hour 3 is a French cab driver, played by Yvan Attal, who longs to be an American action hero. His first interaction with Chris Tucker’s Carter is a bit annoying but the character definitely grows on you. It was also nice to see the Soo Yung character (the singing kidnapped girl in Rush Hour) all grown up to give some connection to the first film.

There are some disappointments with this film as well. The first is the predictable bad guy. If you can’t figure out who it is early on, I would be shocked. Also, Roman Polanski (director of The Pianist & Chinatown) as a detective who enjoys giving full cavity searches is tired and sad. The dance off into the sunset is also atrocious.

What probably amazes me most about Rush Hour 3 is that we haven’t seen Chris Tucker do anything since Rush Hour 2. I don’t know if Tucker is patient or just lazy. In any case, you have to be impressed with his salary hikes. In 1997, Tucker made three films (Fifth Element, Money Talks and Jackie Brown) then went on to do Rush Hour for three million. Then he did nothing for three years and managed to increase his salary to twenty million for the sequel. Again he did nothing from five years, then signed on to Rush Hour 3 for 25 million, which is one of the biggest paychecks an actor can get. I’m impressed. And I still like Chris Tucker and his fast-talking ways. I would like to see him do something else though. Rush Hour is over.

So should you see it in the theatres? Sure. It does have some great action sequences but I’m guessing most people will wait for the DVD. Can’t really blame them. This isn’t a must-see film, but it still entertains most of the time.

Stardust

Is Stardust the next Princess Bride? That’s the question everyone has been asking ever since they saw the first trailers for this movie. I challenge you to find a well-known critic who reviewed Stardust without mentioning Princess Bride. It’s too obvious to pass up. And can you blame them? Stardust has such a light-hearted fairy-tale atmosphere with roaming adventures, sharp wit and quirky characters played by big-name actors. Even so, it seems kind of unfair to make the comparison; Princess Bride is a genuine classic that is next-to-impossible to duplicate. Critics similarly made unreasonable comparisons of Anthony Hopkins’ villain in Fracture (just released on DVD) to Hannibal Lecter. In any case, is Stardust the next Princess Bride? No. But it tries really hard.

Stardust has a lot of things going for it. The first is the work of newcomer Charlie Cox who plays our hero, Tristan. Cox is able to light up the screen with his comedic timing and lovelorn innocence; he is a treat to watch. I’m really hoping he doesn’t take the Orlando Bloom path but instead heads in the John Cusack’s direction. Ricky Gervais (The Office (UK), Extras) is his perfect bumbling self in the small role of a salesman, and Michelle Pfeiffer is perfectly evil as a witch trying to regain her youth. At 49, she can still look hot. The other thing that Stardust has going for it is the wonderful story. Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, this story is enchanting and has a pretty good pace. While I think a couple of things are not explained fully, there is still a flow that takes the audience on a wonderful adventure.

I’m still divided on a couple of things in Stardust. The first is the cross-dressing work of Robert DeNiro. While I think it is brave for him to do such a fruity, flamboyant role, I wonder if he feels like he has to prove himself. I mean, this guy did Taxi Driver, Deer Hunter and Raging Bull; he has nothing to prove. We know he’s a good actor. Maybe he made this one for the kiddies. Who knows? I just know I’m not quite sure what to make of his over-the-top role in this movie. I am also not sold on the love interests in this film. Sienna Miller plays a selfish beyotch who toys with the affection of Tristan. I have no idea what he sees in her. Claire Danes is the falling star, Iyvaine, who also seems pretty moody. Daines does have her moments but I preferred her work in Romeo + Juliet, My So-Called Life and even Terminator 3. Another thing that confused me in Stardust, is the role of the dead brothers who are entertaining with their bystander commentaries but woefully underused. I’m still surprised someone like Rupert Everett would take such a small role. I guess the story is not about the dead brothers and giving them more would only lengthen the already two-hour storyline but I did think there was more potential. Finally, the special effects were not that great; it seemed kind of old school, but maybe that’s what they were going for.

The only thing that really bothered me while watching Stardust was the giggling gaggle of girls in our row. They laughed a little too hard at lines that were only moderately funny; they loudly swooned every time Charlie Cox appeared on screen. I wouldn’t have been surprised if a pillow fight had broken out. Isn’t that what happens at slumber parties? I guess the film is directly aimed at that demographic so I can’t complain too much. So should you see Stardust in the theatre and risk the interactive female responses, I would say no. I think this film has a lot of great things in it but you can get the same experience at home. Maybe if the special effects were more special I would suggest the big screen, but this film fits perfectly on DVD. It’ll be a great movie to distract the kiddies during Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Rescue Dawn

You need to be in the proper mood to watch a film like Rescue Dawn. It’s not a popcorn film. Like Schindler’s List or The Passion of the Christ, it seems almost disrespectful to be wolfing down popcorn while historical figures are being tortured on the screen. For those who don’t know, Rescue Dawn is the based on the real-life story of Dieter Dengler, a German-American pilot who was shot down over Laos during the start of the Vietnam War and held as a POW before his daring escape with Duane Martin. This is a story of survival both physically and mentally. The audience is put through the ringer as we see Dengler and Martin break down trying to get rescued.

The survival story is compelling enough but the real reason to watch this film is to revel in its magnificent acting. Christian Bale stars as Dengler and despite his situation, still manages to be charismatic on the screen. Bale is able to go from seriousness to contemplation to joy to frustration and finally to madness in a matter of seconds. Why has this guy not been nominated for an Oscar? Bale’s turns in American Psycho, Batman Begins, The Machinist, and The Prestige should be ample for an Oscar nod. Hollywood is wondering too. But I’m thinking Rescue Dawn might give Bale the recognition he so richly deserves. This man is one of the greatest actors working in the industry today. Feel free to quote me on that. But Bale doesn’t give the only powerhouse performance in this movie.

Steve Zahn’s riveting portrayal of POW Duane Martin shocked me to the core. I expect greatness from Christian Bale, but I didn’t think Zahn was capable of this caliber of acting. Zahn is usually relegated to the sidekick or comic relief in films, just look at Sahara, Saving Silverman, Joyride and Daddy Day Care. In Rescue Dawn, Zahn’s emotional turmoil is almost too much to take. His pain and madness almost overshadow Bale’s performance, which is pretty impressive. Jeremy Davies (Saving Private Ryan) is also chilling as Gene, a gaunt POW who has his own agenda. Rounding out the fine acting is Toby Huss (Carnivale, Reno 911) who provides some fun audio commentary for a survival film early on in the movie.

I found Rescue Dawn to be very compelling. I rarely watch films having to do with the Vietnam War, so I am intrigued with the politics and even the concept of POWs. The action also plays nicely throughout the film. The beginning is like The Fugitive with all the running, then it goes into a primitive Prison Break, and it wraps up with a kind of Tears of the Sun vibe. But of course, the content is much more serious and life-altering in this story. The film was written and directed by Werner Herzog, a well-respected director, who seems to have an uncanny ability to remain calm in stressful situations. During an interview for Grizzly Man, Herzog was shot by a sniper but continued his interview saying, “It was not a significant bullet. I am not afraid". He also made a film of himself eating a shoe called Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe making good on a bet he made with a young filmmaker named Errol Morris. After hearing about these incidents, Herzog seems like the perfect director to capture the determined attitude of Dieter Dengler.

If you like to see great acting, go see this film in the theatre. But, I wouldn’t blame you if you waited until the DVD. At least make sure you see this film before Oscar time, cause I’ll be shocked if Rescue Dawn doesn’t get some nominations. C’mon Bale and Zahn!

Hot Rod

You have to be an Andy Samberg fan in order to enjoy Hot Rod. His sketches on Saturday Night Live are often humourous but odd; he is not yet in the realm of Will Ferrell or to a lesser degree, Jimmy Fallon. Samberg’s greatest talent on SNL is bringing his warped Digital Shorts to the masses. Trying to find the original content on YouTube is next to impossible thanks to the overflowing Samberg spoofs. Most people have heard his Narnia rap, Lazy Sunday and swooned to the Emmy-nominated Dick in a Box duet with Justin Timberlake, but check out the strangeness of Dear Sister (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ys5LqfEO1Y) which matches gun shots to Imogen Heap’s 'Hide and Seek' in an overblown OC homage. Even more bizarre is Andy Popping Into Frame (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRU2gLpBm68) which is just like it sounds. And don’t get me started on Laser Cats. If this is your type of humour, I think you’ll find Hot Rod moderately funny.

Hot Rod is basically like twenty SNL sketches about the same character, with five of them being very funny, five of them amusing and the rest a one-joke wonder. Andy Samberg plays Rod Kimble, a pathetic stuntman who tries to raise money to help his dying stepfather so he can kick his ass later and prove himself a man. Samberg is great at playing a sweet character whose priorities are in the wrong place. You can’t help but root for him and pity him at the same time. The stunts are both terrible and funny but have been used in the trailers for the movie, so if you’re still laughing at his jump over the truck (like I am) then you’ll enjoy the stunt aspect of this film. The parental storyline is atrocious. Ian McShane, of Deadwood fame, is wasted as Rod’s stepfather who keeps belittling his son and fighting dirty in the basement. The friends, played by Bill Hader (SNL, Superbad), Danny R. McBride, and Jorma Taccone (co-writer of SNL Digital Shorts along with director, Akiva Schaffer), have fun moments but are not given much depth. The ultra-hot Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers) is the unlikely female friend of the group and love interest for Rod. Will Arnett (Arrested Development, Blades of Glory) and Chris Parnell (Anchorman, SNL) put in some fun cameos but it’s a shame they couldn’t get a walk on by Evel Knievel or at least Super Dave Osborne.

While most of the jokes in Hot Rod are juvenile, there are some extremely funny scenes. Rod’s Footloose homage and subsequent mountain fall kept the audience laughing long after it was over. Also the cheesy inspirational walk to John Farnham’s 'You’re the Voice' takes a dark but funny turn, much like the escalating brawl in Anchorman. Unfortunately, these wonderfully crafted scenes are mixed with odd moments like the too-long run of the phrase “cool beans”. This movie was originally intended for Will Ferrell but when he passed, it was Samberg-ized. The film was retooled by the SNL Digital Short team of Samberg, Taccone and Schaffer, so it’s not surprising how hot and cold it turned out.

Hot Rod is a movie you can wait for on DVD. I’m sure many of you would not want to waste your money on this one. But like I said, if you’re a big Andy Samberg fan, you are going to like a lot of this film. I know I’ll be re-watching some of the scenes when they get around to airing it on TBS.

Upcoming reviews: Rescue Dawn, Rush Hour 3

The Bourne Ultimatum

I’m still torn as to whether The Bourne Ultimatum is the best of the trilogy. After seeing this superb action flick, I went home and re-watched the first two installments. The Bourne Identity has the most plot of the three. It introduces us to the character of Jason Bourne and the eventual love of his life. It contains the most dialogue and acting on Matt Damon’s part as he struggles with learning who he is. Chris Cooper is the great villain, Franka Potente is engaging and hot, Clive Owen and Lost’s Mr. Eko put in appearances, and Julia Stiles is sorely underused. The first film was made by the amazing Doug Liman (Swingers, Go) who brilliantly jumpstarts the franchise. Unfortunately, the studio wasn’t a fan of his creative/chaotic technique, so he wasn’t asked back for the second one. And in stepped Paul Greengrass.

The Bourne Supremacy is the worst of the three in my opinion. While there are some great action sequences, there are too many shadows that keep the audience in the dark. The plot twists can be seen a mile away in this film especially when it comes to the bad guy. The saving grace in the second film is the addition of Joan Allen and the larger role for Julia Stiles. What bothers me most in The Bourne Supremacy was the cinematography. Greengrass prefers to keep things handheld and therefore shaky on the screen. In action scenes, the shakiness provides a sense of immediacy and puts the audience into the situation, much like Spielberg’s storming of the beaches in Saving Private Ryan. However, I get annoyed at the shakiness when it’s used in simple scenes of Damon’s Bourne writing in a book or buying fruit. Luckily, the shaky camera work benefits the last of the Bourne trilogy.

Paul Greengrass (United 93) is back at the helm for The Bourne Ultimatum. The opening handheld shots worried me but were thankfully used more skillfully in this installment. Basically, this movie centers on renegade operative, Jason Bourne, trying to figure out who made him into this super-assassin. After watching Supremacy again, I found it weird that Joan Allen’s Pamela Landy had already told Bourne his real name and birthdate at the end of that film and yet it gets repeated as if it’s new information in Ultimatum. That and it seems special that Bourne is coming home again even though Supremacy ends with Bourne walking the streets of New York. Maybe they’re hoping fans forgot. Regardless, the plot seems to be incredibly minor in this Bourne outing, I hear it’s not even close to Robert Ludlum’s novel of the same name. But people should know by now that the reason to watch this film is for the non-stop action.

The Bourne Ultimatum is full of Red Bull energy. While the previous two films take some time to slow down and reveal some plot, this one just keeps humming. The race is on and Greengrass keeps you on the edge of your seat with action sequence after action sequence. One of my favourite scenes involves Bourne guiding a newspaper reporter through a train station without getting caught. It’s a wonderful way for the audience to get some insight as to what goes on in Bourne’s brain as he surveys each situation. Greengrass does borrow some things from the previous films including vehicles on stairwells and bumper cars in tunnels, but the audience doesn’t seem to care. Because of all the action, there is not much dialogue in Ultimatum. I do find it sometimes serves the film better. I like the fact that Bourne doesn’t give some pithy comeback after beating an opponent, he just looks intense and you can see that he has no desire to hurt people but will if he needs to. Damon does well as an action-star. It was also nice to see the return of Joan Allen and Julia Stiles. The addition of David Strathairn, as the new CIA jerk, is fun to watch. Ever since Good Night and Good Luck, I’ve been enjoying the gravitas Strathairn brings to his roles.

If you want to be a part of the action, see The Bourne Ultimatum on the big screen. If shaky cameras make you queasy, you may want to wait for the DVD. While I think The Bourne Identity is still my favourite, Ultimatum sure gives it a run for its money. Here’s hoping that the studio has the good sense to end this series on a high note instead of dragging Bourne back out of retirement.

Upcoming Reviews: Hot Rod, Rescue Dawn, Rush Hour 3

Top Ten Episodes: The Comedies

So I’ve picked four great television comedies and wrote down my ten favourite episodes of each. Again, I’m sure people will agree and disagree with me. I did find it harder to rate comedies than dramas, I guess it depends on the mood you’re in. Anyway, here they are:






Basic plot: Watch the antics of the regulars in a Boston bar.
Seasons: Eleven
Best Season: Eight
Creators: Les Charles, Glen Charles, James Burrows (the people behind Newhart & Taxi; Burrows is one of the best sitcom directors around)
Top Ten Episodes
1. An Old Fashioned Wedding (Season 10, Episode 25)
Woody and Kelly’s new found lust delays an already disastrous wedding
2. Bad Neighbor Sam (Season 9, Episode 8)
Sam can’t stand his new landlord, John Hill
3. Show Down, Part II (Season 1, Episode 22)
Sam and Diane hit a crossroad when Sam’s brother proposes to Diane
4. Abnormal Psychology (Season 5, Episode 4)
Frasier debates an old flame on a television show
5. One Hugs, the Other Doesn’t (Season 10, Episode 16)
Lilith can’t handle the fact that Frasier was once married to Nanny G
6. Loathe and Marriage (Season 11, Episode 15)
Carla doesn’t want her ex husband to walk her girl down the aisle
7. One More For the Road (Season 11, Episode 25)
Diane finally returns and Sam decides to move to LA to be with her
8. Bar Wars (Season 6, Episode 23)
Cheers takes on Gary’s Old Towne Tavern in the ultimate prank war
9. Indoor Fun with Sammy and Robby (Season 8, Episode 19)
Sam and Robin compete in childish games on Robin’s first day off ever
10. Bar Wars V: The Final Judgement (Season 10, Episode 7)
Sam may have scared Gary to death, literally






Basic plot: The prissy Crane brothers deal with their down-to-earth dad
Seasons: Eleven
Best Season: Seven
Creators: David Angell, Peter Casey, David Lee (the people behind Wings)
Top Ten Episodes
1. The Matchmaker (Season 2, Episode 3)
Frasier accidently sets up Daphne with his gay station manager
2. The Two Mrs. Cranes (Season 4, Episode 1)
Everyone plays a different roles when Daphne’s ex-fiancée visits
3. Room Service (Season 5, Episode 15)
Niles spends the night with Lilith, causing problems when Frasier shows up
4. Out With Dad (Season 7, Episode 15)
Martin pretends to be gay in order to get away from Frasier’s date’s mother
5. Daphne Does Dinner (Season 10, Episode 14)
Daphne needs Fraiser’s help when her dinner plans go horribly wrong
6. Three Valentines (Season 6, Episode 14)
Niles ironing is a disaster, Fraiser isn’t sure if he’s on a date
7. The Doctor is Out (Season 11, Episode 3)
Fraiser thinks Roz’s guy is gay but ends up ‘outing’ himself in the process
8. The Innkeepers (Season 2, Episode 23)
The Crane brothers open a disastrous restaurant together
9. Merry Christmas, Mrs. Maskowitz (Season 6, Episode 10)
Frasier meets an attractive woman who mother thinks he’s Jewish
10. Caught in the Act (Season 11, Episode 15)
Fraiser tries to avoid the advances of the married Nanny G






Basic plot: Jerry and his friends in a show about nothing
Seasons: Nine
Best Season: Three
Creators: Jerry Seinfeld & Larry David (you gotta see David's work in Curb Your Enthusiasm, imagine a more extreme George Costanza)
Top Ten Episodes
1. The Contest (Season 4, Episode 11)
The gang is in a contest to see who can remain master of their domain
2. The Soup Nazi (Season 7, Episode 6)
Jerry has a cuddly girlfriend, Kramer's robbed, Elaine fights the soup nazi
3. The Opposite (Season 5, Episode 22)
George succeeds when he does the opposite, but Elaine keeps failing
4. The Chinese Restaurant (Season 2, Episode 11)
Jerry, George and Elaine wait 22 minutes for a table
5. The Burning (Season 9, Episode 16)
Puddy is religious, George leaves on a high note, Kramer acts out illnesses
6. The Bizarro Jerry (Season 8, Episode 3)
Kramer gets a job, Jerry dates ‘man-hands’ and Elaine finds Jerry's opposite
7. The Yada Yada (Season 8, Episode 19)
Jerry is an anti-dentite, Kramer & Mickey fight over girls
8. The Pick (Season 4, Episode 13)
Jerry scratches his nose, Elaine’s nipple is showing on her Xmas cards
9. The Parking Garage (Season 3, Episode 6)
The gang loses their car in a parking garage
10. The Betrayal (Season 9, Episode 8)
A backwards episode about Sue Ellen’s India wedding






Basic plot: The lives and loves of six New York friends
Seasons: Ten
Best Season: Seven
Creators: David Crane & Marta Kauffman (Dream On, Veronica's Closet & Jesse; Crane did The Class)
Top Ten Episodes
1. The One Where Everyone Finds Out (Season 5, Episode 14)
Phoebe hits on Chandler to make him crack; Ross finds the perfect apartment
2. The One With the Embryos (Season 4, Episode 12)
Monica, Rachel, Chandler & Joey play a high stakes game
3. The One With the Prom Video (Season 2, Episode 14)
Joey gives Chandler a bracelet; an old prom video stirs feelings
4. The One Where Ross Got High (Season 6, Episode 9)
Rachel makes a trifle; Chandler is blamed for Ross’ drugs
5. The One With the Morning After (Season 3, Episode 16)
As Ross & Rachel break up; the rest of gang is trapped in Monica’s room
6. The One With the Thanksgiving Flashbacks
(Season 5, Episode 8) A knife in the toe, a turkey on the head and a blown off arm are among the disastrous thanksgivings
7. The One Where Joey Dates Rachel (Season 8, Episode 12)
Joey gets feelings for Rachel; Ms PacMan causes some problems
8. The One With Chandler in a Box (Season 4, Episode 8)
Chandler does penance in a box; Monica dates Richard’s son
9. The One Where No One’s Ready (Season 3, Episode 2)
Joey steals Chandler’s chair; Rachel takes too long to get ready
10. The One Where Monica and Richard are Just Friends (Season 3, Episode 13) Monica reunites with Richard; Phoebe dates a jock; Joey and Rachel switch books

So there you go. Did I miss your favourite episode? Do you agree with my selections? Feel free to let me know. I love to get feedback. I'll probably do a few more of these with shows like Night Court, Wings, Newsradio, Just Shoot Me, Sopranos, Six Feet Under and more at some point. But don't hold your breath.

The Simpsons Movie

I don’t know what people were expecting from The Simpsons Movie. Were they hoping for the Citizen Kane of animated movies? Or The Godfather of animated movies? Were they expecting jaw surgery from laughing so hard? Were they expecting to see a story so brilliant that it would be discussed and taught in schools for years to come? I wasn’t. The Simpsons Movie was meant to be an episode that was too big to fit on the small screen. The movie should be able to please long-time fans with various inside jokes while being stand-alone enough to attract new people. The animation should look sleeker, the emotion should be deeper and the language a little saltier. The Simpsons Movie does all of this. I left the theatre satisfied. I laughed, I choked up, and I got annoyed when a couple people in the crowd said it sucked.

I know I shouldn’t spend time explaining things to those who disagree with me. It seems like a waste of breath, but I’ve been a fan of The Simpsons since they first started on The Tracey Ullman Show. I have seen every episode. I did a school report on The Simpsons in Grade 9 explaining how this irreverent show was the most groundbreaking thing on television. It bothers me when some critics write off The Simpsons by saying that their long running series is already dead in the water. It’s easy to say that the episodes are not as funny and original as the season four heyday, but I have a hard time believing that these critics have watched anything from season eighteen. They must have missed The Haw-Hawed Couple, Springfield Up, Yokel Chords, Crook & Ladder and 24 Minutes to say that The Simpsons have lost it. It bothers me when The Simpsons Movie gets compared to the genius of the South Park film. Bigger, Longer and Uncut was made after two seasons and 35 episodes of the series. It was still fresh. Just imagine if The Simpsons made a movie after season three like they intended to do with Kamp Krusty.
It also bothers me when they say the story of The Simpsons Movie wasn’t original enough. Sure, it borrows elements from previous episodes, but you try writing four-hundred stories and then come up with something earth-shattering and mind-blowing. The fact that eleven screenwriters were able to come up with a cohesive story at all is simply amazing. I know there aren’t that many people who hate this movie, but I had to get these things off my chest. Now onto the rest of the review.

The Simpsons Movie made me laugh pretty hard. Ralf Wiggum’s one liner is classic. The changed identities works like a charm. And even though it has been overused in the recent ad campaigns, Spider-Pig is still funny. I found myself laughing and chuckling consistently, much like I do when watching an episode. The film takes shots at politics, the environment and hot-button issues just like it always does. The movie also shows some stuff that they would never get away with on network television. But what surprised me most was the heart found in the story. We have seen this family torn apart and brought back together many times over their seventeen-year history, but Marge’s heart-felt speech was actually moving. Showing this emotional side keeps us rooting for these characters and grounds the entire story. A show like Family Guy would have ruined the speech by adding a fart at the end or saying, “which reminds me of the time . . .” and then break into some non-sequitur parody of an old eighties sitcom. The Simpsons Movie has its seemingly random moments, but there are many elements that get paid off at the end. If you are a Simpsons fan or even a first-timer, I think you’ll appreciate what this movie has to offer.

So should you see it on the big screen? As it is said in the movie, why would you pay for something that you can see for free at home? I would say, give the creators of The Simpsons their due. See this movie as a tribute. It's crazy, I currently teach students who have never known the world to be without The Simpsons. This show changed the face of television and deserves some of your money. They have earned it. They have entertained us for over seventeen years and don’t plan to stop any time soon. Enjoy the fruits of their labour on the big screen. I know I’m going to see it again. And as I watch, I’ll be thinking about the same thing that is said in the closing credits. Sequel?

Sunshine

Raise your hand if you’ve heard of this movie before. It’s still in limited release, so you probably haven’t seen it at your local Cineplex. I hadn’t heard about Sunshine until about a month ago when I saw the trailer. (If you wanna check out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNZwrgFo3GE) Ther were two things that instantly made me want to watch this film.

The first was director Danny Boyle. This director has one of the most amazing visual styles in film production today. He has given us one of the most disgusting images (the toilet in Trainspotting) and one of the most beautiful (the beach in The Beach). He re-energized the zombie genre is the stylistic 28 Days Later and then did a 180 by doing a fantastic children film called Millions. Now he’s taking on the science fiction genre. Seeing as the film centers on the sun, Boyle gets to play with various light sources, which can be blinding to his audience. Sunshine is very 2001: A Space Odyssey in its imagery but seems to convey a much clearer message. Are we trying to play God if we try to save ourselves by extraordinary means? Maybe we are meant to die at a certain place and time. At least this is the message that I came away with and also justified some of the actions that have been ripped apart by some of the critics. Even though the movie is relatively short at 108 minutes, Boyle takes his time when traveling through quiet space much like Kubrick did with 2001. I’m sure there will be many comparisons with the voice of Icarus II and HAL, but this computer seems a lot less lethal and menacing. There is also a hint of Alien in this film, where no one can hear you scream, but it doesn’t last for too long. And while the images,homages and story work very well in this picture, I can’t say the same for the characters. Well, except one.

The second thing that made me want to see Sunshine was Cillian Murphy. I enjoy watching this actor. He was compelling in 28 Days Later and creepy in both Batman Begins and Red Eye. His preciseness when it comes to dialogue reminds me of Alan Rickman’s rich pronunciation. Murphy plays Capa, the narrator and valuable member of the Icarus II team. His character’s wide range of emotions is expertly done, sometimes without having to say a word. Murphy seems to work well with Boyle and writer Alex Garland (28 Days Later, The Beach) and I’d love to see them collaborate again. And while Cillian Murphy is a treat to watch, I can’t say the same for the other actors.

Because so much time is spent on various tasks, there is not enough time to invest in the other characters. I find it difficult to root for people that I can’t connect to. Most of the characters seem a little one-dimensional with exception of Murphy, Rose Byrne (28 Weeks Later) and Chris Evans (Fantastic Four). Although I get annoyed just looking at Chris Evans; I can’t take him seriously at all. It’s probably his Human Torch persona that turns me off. But I’m sure other people don’t have as much of a problem with him.

While the characters are weak, the visuals more than make up for it, especially on the big screen. If you are thinking about seeing Sunshine, see it in the theatre. The greatness of space, the beauty of the sun and the rich sound of the machines will be completely lost on your plasma or LCD screens at home. I don’t care how many inches your TV is, it will not be able to compete with the larger than life visuals in Sunshine. But that’s of course assuming that you are interested in science fiction movies that don’t run at breakneck speed.

Top Ten Episodes: The Dramas

So I picked six great television dramas and wrote down my ten favourite episodes of each. I’m sure people will agree and disagree with me. That’s why I like lists. If you haven’t seen any of these series before and you’re curious, why not download an episode or two from the top of each list and give it a shot. You can thank me later.






Basic Plot: Buffy and her friends fight evil in a Califonia town
Seasons: 7 (not counting the current eighth season in comic form)
Creator: Joss Whedon (wrote Toy Story, Speed, and Serenity)
Why so great?: It mixes action, fantasy, drama and humour seemlessly with monsters representing real life struggles.
Top Ten Episodes
1. Once More with Feeling (Season 6, Episode 7)
Sunnydale breaks out into song and dance to the point of spontaneous combustion. All the songs are original and propel the storyline while using the traditional musical format.
2. Hush (Season 4, Episode 10)
Demons have taken all the voices in Sunnydale. All the various conflicts need to be resolved with other forms of communication.
3. The Body (Season 5, Episode 16)
Buffy and her friends deal with a death in the family. The point of views and realistic reactions make this episode stand apart from anything else on TV.
4. Restless (Season 4, Episode 22)
The Scooby Gang has some trippy dreams that reveal many aspects of their character as well as the future
5. Storyteller (Season 7, Episode 16)
Andrew documents the life and history of the vampire slayer is his own unique way
6. Doppelgangland (Season 3, Episode 16)
An evil Willow from another dimension causes problems for Willow and her friends by taking The Bronze hostage
7. Something Blue (Season 4, Episode 9)
Willow’s wish causes Giles to go blind, Xander to be a demon magnet and Buffy to marry her nemesis Spike
8. Surprise/Innocence (Season 2, Episodes 13 & 14)
Buffy loses her virginity to Angel causing him to become evil while Willow finds out about Xander and Cordelia
9. Selfless (Season 7, Episode 5)
The history of Anya is revealed after she kills group of frat boys
10. Earshot (Season 3, Episode 18)
Buffy can hear people’s thoughts, including someone who is going to take out his anger on the school.






Basic Plot: Angel is a private detective/vampire who fights evil
Seasons: 5 (yanked by the WB for no good reason)
Creators: Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt (currently running the similarly themed Moonlight)
Why so great?: It's like Buffy but is intended for older audiences
Top Ten Episodes
1. Waiting in the Wings (Season 3, Episode 13)
The ballet causes Angel and Cordelia to lust and Wesley to get his heart broken by Fred and Gunn
2. Smile Time (Season 5, Episode 14)
Angel gets turned into a puppet when a kids program starts killing children
3. Guise Will be Guise (Season 2, Episode 6)
Wesley has to pretend to be Angel for a protection job while Angel visits a swami to clear his head
4. A Hole in the World/Shells (Season 5, Episodes 15 & 16)
The men try to keep Fred from turning into Illyria and try to find out who caused it
5. Five By Five/Sanctuary (Season 1, Episodes 18 & 19)
Faith returns to kill Angel but Wesley want to save her instead
6. Spin the Bottle (Season 4, Episode 6)
A memory spell goes bad causing everyone to revert back to their highschool personas
7. Through the Looking Glass (Season 2,Episode 21)
The gang tries to rescue Cordelia from Pylea, where Angel has different abilities and meets Fred
8. Soul Purpose (Season 5, Episode 10)
Angel has disturbing nightmares while Spike becomes an Angel-like hero
9. Orpheus (Season 4, Episode 15)
Willow returns to restore Angel’s soul while Faith invades Angel’s memories
10. Not Fade Away (Season 5, Episode 22)
The gang spends the day as if it were their last, just before a climactic battle






Basic Plot: Sydney is a double agent fighting counter-governement cells
Seasons: 5
Creator: JJ Abrams (created Lost, Felicity and directed MI:III)
Why so great?: Great spy action mixed with humour and dramatic character development
Top Ten Episodes
1. Phase One (Season 2, Episode 13)
Sidney is able to take down SD-6 with a special password but she must rely on Dixon to verify
2. The Telling (Season 2, Episode 22)
Will figures out who set him up leading to Sidney trashing her apartment as she fights the real enemy
3. Truth Be Told (Season 1, Episode 1)
Sidney’s fiancée is murdered so she threatens to leave SD-6 but instead becomes a CIA mole
4. There’s Only One Sidney Bristow (Season 5, Episode 12)
Will is kidnapped so Sidney returns to work and finds herself confronting Anna again
5. After Six (Season 3, Episode 13)
Sark works with Lauren and Sidney works with Weiss to convince a security installer to betray her clients
6. Tuesday (Season 4, Episode 13)
Dixon is infected shutting down APO, so only Marshall can save Sidney who is buried alive
7. The Abduction (Season 2, Episode 10)
Marshall goes on his first mission while Jack is being interrogated
8. Bob (Season 5, Episode 8)
Rachel accidentally hooks up with Sark, then must work with him to stop a bomb from going off
9. Reprisal/All the Time in the World (Season 5, Episodes 16 & 17)
Marshall & Rachel are taken hostage, so the gang must works together to rescue them and stop Sloane & Irina
10. S.O.S. (Season 5, Episode 10)
Weiss helps the gang break into the CIA to get some important information on Sydney's whereabouts






Basic Plot: Scully, the skeptic, and Mulder, the believe, try to solve supernatural events
Seasons: 9 (they wanted to end after Season 7 but Fox kept it going)
Creator: Chris Carter (currently planning the second movie)
Why so great?: The middle seasons are filled with funny and creative cases
Top Ten Episodes
1. Hollywood A.D. (Season 7, Episode 19)
The movie based on Mulder and Scully’s life makes a mockery of their work
2. Triangle (Season 6, Episode 3)
In the Bermuda triangle, Mulder transports back in time where the Nazis control his boat
3. Bad Blood (Season 5, Episode 12)
Mulder and Scully have varying accounts of a vampire attack in a small town
4. Arcadia (Season 6, Episode 15)
Mulder and Scully go undercover in a gated suburb community where neatness is vital
5. Humbug (Season 2, Episode 20)
Residents of a circus freak show are all suspects in the murder of The Alligator Man
6. Je Souhaite (Season 7, Episode 21)
A genie grants any wish to a couple of trailer folk who don’t know exactly what to wish for
7. Monday (Season 6, Episode 14)
Mulder is caught in a continuous loop that features a leaky waterbed and a bank robbery gone bad
8. First Person Shooter (Season 7, Episode 13)
Scully must come to Mulder’s rescue when he is caught in the middle of a deadly video game
9. Dreamland (Season 6, Episodes 4 & 5)
Fox Mulder and Morris Fletcher switch bodies after a paranormal wave hits Area 51
10. Home (Season 4, Episode 2)
A tiny community is rattled by three inbred brothers






Basic Plot: Follow the lives of the President and his staff
Seasons: 7
Creator: Aaron Sorkin (created Sports Night, Studio 60 and wrote A Few Good Men and The American President)
Why so great?: The fast talking comedy mixed with powerful drama
Top Ten Episodes
1.In the Shadow of Two Gunmen (Season 2, Episodes 1 & 2)
While Bartlet & Josh cling to life, we see how the staff got hired
2. Two Cathedrals (Season 2, Episode 22)
Bartlet has a hard time dealing with Mrs Landingham’s death, MS and the impending reelection
3. Twenty-Five (Season 4, Episode 23)
Bartlet relieves his post when his daughter is kidnapped and he’s linked to an assassination
4. Here Today (Season 7, Episode 5)
Toby confesses to being the leak; Josh has to fire a bunch of Santo’s staff
5. Noel (Season 2, Episode 10)
Josh sees a therapist to deal with the shooting when he identifies with a dead pilot
6. Bad Moon Rising (Season 2, Episode 19)
Babish questions the president and Leo concerning the MS cover-up
7. Game On (Season 4, Episode 6)
Bartlet proves that intelligence is not such a bad thing in a debate
8. Evidence of Things Not Seen (Season 4, Episode 20)
Josh interviews Joe Quincy while the staff plays poker
9. Bartlet for America (Season 3, Episode 9)
As Leo testifies, we see how Leo and Jed started working together
10. Five Votes Down (Season 1, Episode 4)
Josh kicks some butt, Toby is rich and the Presidents takes too much back medication






Basic Plot: A group of friends in a smalltown learn about life and love
Seasons: 6
Creator: Kevin Williamson (wrote Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Faculty)
Why so great?: The self-referential dialgoue and drama is a much needed guilty pleasure
Top Ten Episodes
1. The Longest Day (Season 3, Episode 20)
The day is stuck on repeat as Pacey and Joey try to tell Dawson about their new relationship
2. Appetite For Destruction (Season 5, Episode 10)
Jen and Dawson’s new relationship is put under the microscope during a friendly dinner
3. Joey Potter & the Capeside Redemption (Season 6, Episode 22)
Joey gets everyone together to help Dawson shoot his independent movie about their lives
4. Guerilla Filmmaking (Season 5, Episode 14)
Dawson needs a new leading man and new ending as Audrey falls for Pacey during rehearsal
5. The Unusual Suspects (Season 4, Episode 8)
Jack, Dawson and Pacey are interrogated for a grad prank in film noir style
6. Coda (Season 4, Episode 23)
History repeats itself, as Dawson has to say goodbye to Joey and Capeside before heading to LA
7. Breakfast Club (Season 1, Episode 7)
In Saturday detention, the insecurities of the group come out thanks to Abby Morgan
8. To Be Or Not To Be/That Is the Question
(Season 2, Episodes 14 & 15)
Jack’s poem about a guy causes Pacey to spit at a teacher and Joey to question Jack’s sexuality
9. True Love (Season 3, Episode 23)
Joey has to make a decision between to the two boys before Pacey leaves town on his boat
10. All Good Things/Must Come To an End
(Season 6, Episodes 23 & 24)
It’s five years later. One of the friends is dying and Joey has to make her ultimate decision

So there you go. Did I miss your favourite episode? Do you agree with my selections? Are you still wondering why I covered Dawson's Creek? Feel free to let me know. I love to get feedback.The comedies are on their way. I'll be listing some favourite epsiodes from Cheers, Friends and Seinfeld to name a few. Stay tuned.

Hairspray

I always get a kick out of musicals. I find it funny that everyone in town seems to know the lyrics and dance steps to spontaneous songs. Maybe that’s why I’m mocking them in my next spoofed up play Musical!: The Musical. A good musical needs a great story, interesting characters and catchy songs. The movie version of a musical also needs stellar production values that tie all of these things together. Hairspray has some of these elements but not all of them. When I saw the trailers for Hairspray the biggest thing (no pun intended) that turned me off was John Travolta in a fat suit. The thing that drew me to the movie was the production values and the song used in the trailer. What brought me to the theatre was the 94% given by Rotten Tomatoes.

What Hairspray has going for it is some catchy songs, some great characters and some vivid sets. The film is bookended with the best songs. The opening tune “Good Morning Baltimore” is much like Belle’s from Beauty and the Beast. It also includes a fun cameo from John Waters (the original Harispray film director) as a flasher. This song is fun and bouncy and introduces us to the captivating Nikki Blonksy. This girl manages to steal the spotlight from all the other big name actors in this cast. Her energy and commitment to the role is outstanding. The screen literally lights up when she enters a scene. This is Blonsky’s first film, but that sheer wonder of working in the movies works to her advantage as her character is given a role in the Corny Collins Show. The last song is the climactic “You Can’t Stop the Beat” which is still running in my head as I write this review. This song, also used in the trailer, is instantly infectious and has you leaving the theatre with a spring in your step.

Unfortunately, the rest of the songs aren’t as memorable as the first and last. Zac Efforn’s “Ladies Choice” and the ensemble’s “Without Love” are good but hardly showstopping. I did enjoy Blonksy’s daydream-like “I Can Hear the Bells” but that’s mostly because of her charm and the cinematic journey throughout the school. While the other songs have fun lyrics, the music doesn’t seem to match.

Along with Blonsky, the other students are well cast. Amanda Bynes (She’s the Man, What I Like About You) is simply adorable as the lollipop sucking Penny Pingleton. Zac Efron (High School Musical) is wonderfully cast as the dreamy love interest. Brittany Snow and Elijah Kelley also portray their 60s character beautifully. I have a bigger problem with the adult characters in this story. Well, except for Christopher Walken who shines as the gentle and caring Wilber Turnblad. Queen Latifah is boring as Motormouth Maybelle even if she can sing her heart out. Michelle Pfieffer plays an okay villain but I hope she does far better in the upcoming Stardust. And as expected, John Travolta was terrible. I wish they cast gravel-voiced Harvey Fierstein (Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day) to reprise his Broadway starring role as Edna Turnblad. What maybe bothered me more than Travolta’s annoying mugging for the camera was the fact that I could see the prosthetic attachments under his eyes. There is a clearly visible line that should have been taken care of by the make-up people. I found it completely distracting.

As much fun as the movie tries to be, the message is plain and boring: Segregation is bad. Hairspray is all about accepting people no matter what their weight or skin colour. I don’t know about you, but it sounds a little too ‘afterschool-special’ly to me. Maybe I’m too cynical, but I found this message a little too simplistic and took most of the emotion out of the film. Musicals need a great story and this one falls short. It’s no Chicago.

So should you see Hairspray in the theatre? I’d wait for the DVD personally. Sure, the visuals look great on the big screen but I know you’re going to want to rewind the opening and closing songs. Of course, doing that will keep the songs lodged in your head forever. You can’t stop the beat.

Sicko

Whenever I bring up the film Sicko, people get riled up. They start going into this diatribe on how Michael Moore is so one-sided and that his documentaries are just thinly-veiled propaganda messages. I always wonder what else they were expecting. Most documentaries are one-sided. The filmmaker is trying to make a point, so they are probably going to avoid the counter-point as much as possible. I mean, you can’t tell me An Inconvenient Truth is fair and balanced. It’s a one-sided view on ending global warming. Do I think we should try and reduce global warming? Sure. Do I think Al Gore has all the facts correct? No. Do I think An Inconvenient Truth is a good documentary? Actually, no. I found it boring. Insightful but boring. This is where Michael Moore comes in. Say what you will about his one-sided views, but I find Moore’s documentaries far from boring.

I’ve always enjoyed Michael Moore’s in-your-face style of filmmaking. His work in Roger & Me and his television series TV Nation and The Awful Truth were fun and cutting at the same time. He loved to exploit the hypocrisy and greediness of corporate America. He was and is inventive in his style even though some of his “don’t you care” ambushes are a little hard to take. I loved his dissection of gun violence in Bowling for Columbine. Sure, his unlocked Canadian doors and Charlton Heston/Dick Clark ambushes were unfortunate, but he made up for it with insightful interviews with Marilyn Manson and showing us the animated History of America. Michael Moore’s documentaries (much like Morgan “Super Size Me” Spurlock’s) are entertaining but also spark discussion. I’ll grant that Fahrenheit 9/11 was less fun and I got sick of his hypothetical “maybe he was thinking” stuff but it still got people talking. I find that Sicko is similar in this vein; it’s not as ‘entertaining’ as Bowling for Columbine, but it does make you think.

In Sicko, Moore thankfully spends some time behind the camera as he bashes the American health system. With a scary look at insurance practices and hospital costs, Moore definitely wants his audience to question their government. To show the glaring inadequacies of American health care, Moore travels around the world to explore how other countries treat their sick. As we all know, Moore is in love with Canada so he comes here first to feign shock at our ‘free’ health care. Of course, Moore always goes to smaller Canadian suburbs instead of Toronto or Vancouver, just so he can showcase the quick waiting room service and ‘free’ hospital stays. The Canadian citizens he interviews always seem to forget that they pay taxes, which in turn provides them with ‘free’ healthcare.

What I found interesting was the healthcare in England and France. I like what England does with their medication prices and France appears to be a birthing heaven with its free nannies who make you dinner and do your laundry. Of course, this is from Moore’s point of view so I take it with a grain of salt. Again, people and Moore seem to ignore the taxes that they pay and where that money goes. But regardless, it is still interesting to see how it’s done in other countries without having to do all the research. Moore lays it on thick when he brings 9/11 volunteers to Cuba but it’s what I’ve come to expect. He ends on a high note with a response to a damaging website and even includes a way for Americans to hook up with Canadians to benefit from our healthcare system.

I think you should watch this film even if it’ll make you angry. Just ignore the Michael Moore aspect and look at the state of health care. Sure it’s one-sided but I bet you’ll be talking about it as soon as you leave the theatre. And I think that’s all he’s hoping for, starting the discussion.

Harry Potter V

As I was sitting in the movie theatre watching the “guess-which-movie” slide show for the billionth time, an excited lady sitting next to me leaned over and asked if I was a Harry Potter fan. I didn’t know how to answer. I simply said, “I haven’t read the books, I just watch the movies, so you tell me.” So, I guess I’m not a true Harry Potter fan. The great thing for me is that I don’t get disappointed when the movie omits 'valuable details' from the book. It pays to be oblivious sometimes.

As much as I enjoy going to see the latest Harry Potter film, I never leave the theatre reveling in its greatness. All the movies contain fun storylines, interesting visual effects and great acting, but nothing profound. And sometimes that’s just fine with me. To be honest, this film was probably my least favourite of the series, but still managed to be enjoyable. If I had to rank the movies so far, I’d probably go 3, 1, 4, 2, 5. Azkaban had a special darkness to it and a fun time-shifting storyline. Philosopher’s Stone had the daunting but fun task of introductions. Goblet had the adventurous trials and nervous courting. Chamber has an interesting mystery. And I don’t know what Phoenix really has story-wise. The building of the army didn’t really grab me and the climactic battle was just okay. When I look back on the fifth installment, I’ll probably remember the characters more than the storyline.

The addition of the devilishly prim and proper Dolores Umbridge, played by the brilliant Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), was a treat. Not only does her character infuriate both students and the audience, she also represents the director/author’s views on the government interfering with the education system. As a teacher myself, I had to laugh at the importance of Hogwart’s standardized tests.

Of course, my favourite character in the Harry Potter universe is Severus Snape. And yes, I know that his part becomes bigger in the next two books/films. I enjoy listening to every word drip out of Alan Rickman’s mouth as he portrays the slippery Snape. His scene with Umbridge is classic as is the quick flashback that was surprisingly reminiscent of my favourite ten seconds of Ratatouille. It put Snape is a whole new light and I look forward to seeing him strut his stuff in the next couple films.

I will admit that Daniel Radcliff has come a long way since his first turn as the famous Harry Potter. I guess that naked stableboy role in Equus helped. Also, when you’re working with the likes of British acting royalty like Richard Griffiths, Gary Oldman, Jason Issacs, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Imelda Staunton and Alan Rickman, you really can’t go wrong. I’m sure these thespians have been a wonderful source of acting methods and stories. I am truly impressed that the Harry Potter films have been able to employ some of the greatest actors of our time and kept them around for the entire run of the series. But then again, can you blame these actors for wanting to be a part of a ground-breaking series of books that have reinvigorated children’s interest in reading?

For me, I’ll stick to the movies for now. I already know who dies in the sixth book and I’m sure I’ll know how the whole thing ends way before Deathly Hallows makes it to the screen. But I’ll enjoy the films anyway. They’re fun. And sometimes that’s all I need. So watch the film. Enjoy. And wonder why the giant looks just like Alfred E Newman from MAD magazine. Go ahead, tell me I’m wrong.

Happy Anniversary

So it’s hard to believe that I’ve been doing this blogging thing for a whole year. After 68 posts and over 60 movie reviews, I’m still not sick of this. It does surprise me that I have written this much. I never enjoyed doing essays in school, yet I seem to have no problem filling many paragraphs with my opinions on film and television. I hope the reviews have been helpful over this past year. If you have any suggestions to make this blog better for pop culture junkies, just let me know. I guess that’s my only regret when it comes to writing blogs; I have no idea how many people are actually reading this. I only know of a couple of people who tell me they read my reviews. I wish there was a way to have a counter tell me how many people have visited. (Maybe there is and I’m too stupid to know how it works.) If you are a regular reader of my blog, drop me a comment. I’d love to know who I’m writing for. Think of it as a Facebook friends list.

Here’s to another year.

Upcoming reviews: Harry Potter V, Sicko, Hairspray, The Simpsons Movie
Upcoming features: Top Ten Episodes, Emmy Nominations, Fall TV Preview

Ratatouille

There is scene in Ratatouille that is roughly ten seconds long. It is the best scene Pixar has ever created (and that’s saying something). It was instant. It brought tears to my eyes. It made me laugh so hard the volume couldn’t even come out. It was simply brilliant. And I’m not going to tell you what goes on this climactic moment of excellence, but if you have seen this film you know exactly which scene I am talking about.

Ratatouille is deserving of all its critical praise. There is little wonder how this film got 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Brad Bird and Pixar know what they are doing. I haven’t seen Pixar screw up yet. Every film they put out is great fun for both kids and parents alike. Pixar is a five-course meal compared to the microwave burritos put out by Dreamworks Animation. Even the Pixar shorts (in this case a fun alien romp called Lifted) are better than Shrek. The animation is so crisp and the stories are so well told, you simple have to marvel at the genius of Pixar. Of course, a lot of credit should also be given to Brad Bird. This former Simpsons writer, is responsible for The Incredibles and The Iron Giant (both on my greatest animation list). Bird knows how to get you involved with the characters and tell an interesting story with powerful messages. All other animators should take a Brad Bird seminar in order to perfect their craft.

Here is a sampling, an appetizer if you will, of what I loved in Ratatouille. The character designs. The water sequence. The Paris visuals. The squeaking. The design of Ego’s study. Ego’s critic speech. The realistic reaction to rats. The quick cut of the health inspector. The thumb. The love story. The message of knowing who you are. The wet rat look. And of course, the ten second scene. I also love that this movie doesn’t rely on celebrity voices. People might remember Patton Oswald as Spence from King of Queens, but he’s hardly a household name. Granted, Peter O’Toole is recognizable as the miserly food critic, Anton Ego, but most of the actors disguise their voices in French accents. It’s hard to place Janeane Garofalo as the love interest or Pixar favourite John Ratzenberger as a waiter. Of course, now you’ll probably be listening for it.

And while I think Ratatouille is an excellent film, there are two things that bothered me. The first is the disturbing image of rats running through a building. While Remy, the main rat, is cute, the rest of the clan is a little hard to take. I kept thinking of the plague. There is scene that is reminiscent of Cinderella with all the rats working, but this version kind of creeps me out. Maybe that was intentional. I’m not quite sure. The other thing that bothered me were the supporting characters. While Finding Nemo and Cars are rich with funny and strange individuals, this film kind of backed off from them. Don’t get me wrong, the main characters and even some supporting characters are well fleshed out and interesting, but in one scene they quickly gloss over the other chefs in the kitchen. I wanted to see and hear them a bit more. Maybe they were cut for time. I also thought they could have given Remy’s brother a few more quirks. By these are minor quibbles.

Ratatouille is awesome. I think you should see it in the theatre. The fine-hair animation looks great on the big screen. But then again, if you have HD, you can probably see that at home too. Personally, I would spend ten bucks just to see that ten-second scene again. Seriously, it’s that amazing.