I'm back after my two-week hiatus. This week was a tough one since I haven't watched any excellent movies or finished any excellent books. Therefore, I've decided to go with a few selections from earlier this year that have really stuck in my brain.
Film: Pan's Labyrinth
If you haven't seen Director Guillermo del Toro's film yet, DO SO IMMEDIATELY! I have never experienced a film like this. It's difficult to explain because it's so visual. Yes, I can say that it is one girl's fantasy as she deals with the hardships of her mother's death and a savage step-father, but that reduces the film itself to a badly-written tagline. The truth is, it doesn't matter what the film is "really" about. You see it not necessarily for the story - which is enjoyable - but for the costuming, cinematography, and effects. I saw it on the big screen and was overwhelmed. If you have the opportunity, watch it on a big-screen tv with surround sound. If you, like me, have a small television, sit close. Oh, and make sure you watch it with the lights off.
Book: Geek Love
Katherine Dunn's 2002 novel is a bit disturbing in parts but totally worth the ride. I should warn you that "geek" does not refer to a dork. Instead, she is writing about a family of sideshow freaks and the "geek" refers to the act where a person bites a head off a live chicken. That person, in the sideshow business, is called a geek. The family you read about is purposely disfigured. The mother uses various forms of drugs during her pregnancy to produce the best and most show-stopping results. The surviving children are Siamese twins, a fish-like boy, a hunchbacked albino, and Chick (no one knows what he really is). Before you think this book is deranged, as are the people in it, remember that a good text will make the consumer question society's standards of normality. Just who are the monsterss in this book? You might be surprised.
Television Show: Heroes
Last television year I started with three shows: Heroes, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and some other new show that was cancelled (which didn't even impress me because I can't remember the title). Unfortunately, Studio 60 was cancelled because only smart people were watching it. Sigh... It was awesome. But Heroes continued and I was enthralled. The season finale left me screaming for more; the wait ahead seemed dreadful. But now we are just 29 hours away from a new season and I couldn't be more excited. I don't want to say too much because I know of at least one reader who is working her way through the DVDs. If you missed Season 1, rent it now and TiVO the new eps. It is well worth the time.
This new television season I will be watching two new shows: The Reaper on The CW and Pushing Daisies on ABC. Nope, I'm not watching the vampire detective show as it is just a rip-off of Forever Knight and Angel. Not interested.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
Yes, Pan's Labrynth is an outstanding film. In fact, I would say its too good to be classified as pop culture. Hollywood would not make that kind of film, nor would it make The Devil's Backbone. Rather Hollywood makes Hellboy. The same thing can be said for why Penlope Cruz is outstanding in Volver and Don't Move but Hollywood turns her into the poor man's Ashley Judd, and man thats poor. Del Toro's new film his theatres in the states on the last weekend of December.
Funny you reviewed Pan's Labryinth this week. I TiVo'd it for the girls but had to delete it before we could watch it. My TiVo got too full while we were in Vegas. I'm sure it will be on again.
Not giving the Bionic Woman a chance? I just saw the pilot last night and it was pretty good. Not sure if I'll commit to it though. I was a fan of the original from what I remember of reruns. Of course, it hasn't been on in a long time so it may just be that phenomenon where certain shows seems really awesome to a small kid (case in point: Knightrider).
But, we do need more ass-kicking chicks! I miss Buffy.
Yes, we need more ass-kicking chicks...but for me, after 5 great years of Alias, Bionic Woman's ads seemed like a total reworking of that combined with the original '70s BW show.
Heather makes the same argument for Moonlight--which I did watch. There are worse things on TV (basically any reality show) but boy...if you were a faithful Angel fan, you will definitely catch the influences...everything from the cinematography style, to the vampire driving a convertible in LA, to actual lines of dialogue: "It all started with a girl."
Reaper was decent. I'm also looking forward to Pushing Daisies. Also liked Journeyman...it's sort of a combination of the book The Time Traveler's Wife and Medium.
I didn't see Journeyman but the concept/commercials remind me of Quantum Leap.
What's the deal with New Amsterdam? I saw commercials a while back but haven't seen anything about it since
I think New Amsterdam got pushed to mid-season for some reason.
If you like the concept of New Amsterdam, it's basically a ripoff of a good book called Forever by Pete Hamill. It's about a man who emigrates from Ireland in the 1700s to New York City and becomes immortal, but he can't leave Manhattan or he'll die. But he lives through hundreds of years of New York City, which is interesting (and well researched). There is speculation that the idea for New Amsterdam was lifted from Forever.
Yes, Journeyman has a bit of Quantum Leap in there too. But he stays in his own body, which is quite useful, because he can take whatever is on his person with him--keys, cell phone, money.
Wow! I spend a week packing up my crap and moving into my new place and I miss an awesome discussion!
Yes, I miss Buffy. Krista, I'm not sure about Bionic Woman. I didn't actively watch it, but I am always up for renting the first season of a great show. I loved Chuck, Reaper, and Pushing Daisies. All will be discussed here in coming weeks. I need to give them a few more eps before I commit them to the blog.
I agree about Journeyman. I stayed away because Scott Bakula did it first and did it so well how can it be bettered? I just don't have a lot of faith and patience for repeat ideas. Krista, my great tv show as a kid was The A-Team. Now I catch eps on TV Land and realize my dad was right: the show did pretty much suck. I begged to watch and he let me, but it must have been painful for him. (Especially since those were the days before we had two tvs in the house.)
Valerie, you'll have to catch Pan's Labyrinth again. It's well worth it and you and Chris have the tv set-up to make it look awesome. By the way, I hope you loved Vegas and are enjoying the next decade of your life. Congrats on turning 40!!!! :-)
Ha. A-Team was another of those now unwatchable shows for me.
I saw the second ep of Bionic Woman and it's still pretty good. Nothing incredible.
Loving The Office though!
Jennica, sometimes a cell phone wouldn't be much help to a time traveler! And . . do you still watch Smallville? I only got the CW in the last year (satellite). I could watch it now, but Thursday is the worst time since Earl/Office/30 Rock and Scrubs are all on then. The IS girl makes a really good Supergirl, just based on appearances anyway.
Does anyone remember the Bloom County comic strip? One of the best strips ever was this time when Opus went around telling the unfettered truth to everyone he met. The final panel featured Opus telling Steve Dallas, "You know A-team and Night Rider are really kids shows." To which he responds, "It can't be, it can't *&%%$ be!"
Why is it that 80s shows just don't stand the test of time?????
Krista--Smallville and I have a love-hate relationship. I HATE Lana and have heard that she and Clark are going to get back together (again...) this season. That is enough right there for me to stop watching for good. But I do like Supergirl and it's fun that the sister from Instant Star is playing the part. I've taped the first 2 episodes and may watch them eventually.
The Lois aspect annoys me too. Clark should be more attracted to her (even in a sparring-partner way, which is only there occasionally). I could be wrong with Superman history, but I always took Lana to be the high school crush on a superficial level and Lois as the real love of his life. Smallville makes it out like Lana is his true love and Lois is this annoying acquaintance, and for years that has been the case on that show.
Regarding Journeyman and the cell phone. Most of his trips seem to be to the '80s and '90s, so in the second episode, he tracked down a mid-90s style cell phone, which works in many time periods he goes to.
Post a Comment