Summer Not-So-Loving

Tomorrow is the first day of July and I have yet to be blown away by television and a book. What is wrong? I have season one of Bones coming and I'm enjoying a Peter Straub novel from the 1980s. Maybe my luck is about to change. At least the movies are still enjoyable.

Film: The Happening
It's going to be tough to discuss M. Night's latest without giving anything away. To keep the spoiler alerts at zero, I will not discuss the plot at all. Let's begin with the acting. There is no doubt that M. Night can do brilliant stuff with his actors. I mean, did anyone consider that Bruce Willis was a dramatic actor before The Sixth Sense???? The Happening is no different. Mark Wahlburg is very good in this film. He doesn't seem to be acting at all. While watching the film, I could connect with his reactions to the events because they would have been mine to some extent. I love that real-life feel M. Night has. Also, no one does surprise shots like this man. I don't mean jump-out-of-your-seat surprise (there are some of those, too); they can be surprising in their beauty. There are several such scenes - two of which occur in Princeton - throughout the film. No one does a door shot like this man. His frame-within-a-frame shots are beautiful. There are two scenes from this film that have stuck with me, but I won't tell you what they are. I'll simply say one occurs in NYC and one in Princeton. Those who have seen the film will be able to know exactly what I mean. As Matt and I have discussed, though, M. Night needs to learn to censor himself. There are "well duh" moments throughout the script; there are also some very unnecessary lines. But overall this is another beautiful film from M. Night. I love the man and all his films. I'm sure that statement will drum up some indignation from the lurkers out there, but isn't that the whole point of a blog?

Television: The Justice League
I totally got sucked into a Justice League marathon on Boomerang Saturday. And I don't mean the old Justice League of my youth. (Not that I didn't absolutely LOVE my JL lunchbox in grade school!) We're talking the revamped series of the new millennium. I have long enjoyed the artistic style of producer Bruce Timm, who incidently has a long history of animation. It's dark and edgy, perfect for an adult audience. I hadn't watched too many JL eps, though. I really enjoyed getting to know them. The voices are fun; although I didn't recognize the main voices, a quick trip to IMDB confirmed that many of the secondary characters have been voiced by very famous folks like Hector Elizondo, Virginia Madsen, and Mark Hamill. The comedy is quite adult with many sexual references throughout the several episodes I caught. Not only that, the show is very self-referential and the best moments are when it's mocking it's very superhero culture. This is not the oh-so-lame (again, I'll admit that I thought it was the best cartoon ever when I was younger) JL with Aquaman and the Wonderbrats. If you're flipping one day and come across an epsiode, stop for a moment and take in a little superhero amusement.

There is no book recommendation this week. Sorry!

AFI's 10 Top !0

Well folks, as you know - unless you're living under a rock or spent a fabulous week+ in Europe (so jealous, Val and T, the pics look awesome!) - AFI has come up with the top 10 films of 10 different genres: animation, romantic comedies, westerns, sports, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, gangster, courtroom drama, and epic. You can view the list at http://www.afi.com/10top10/animation.html.

This week, let's talk the list.

I have to say that I was pretty impressed. For the most part, I thought the movies were good pics. Some of my favorites made it: The Philadelphia Story, Adam's Rib, Moonstruck (#5, #7, and #8 romantic comedies); Cat Ballou (#10 western, and a big surprise); Rocky (#2 sports); Rear Window and The Usual Suspects (#3 and #10 mystery); the entire fantasy list; Star Wars, Blade Runner, Terminator 2 (#2, #6, and #8 sci-fi); The Godfather 1 and 2 and Pulp Fiction (#1, #3, and #7 gangsters); and Schindler's List (#3 epic). This is not to say that I can't appreciate many of the other films, but these are my favs from the list.

That said, I have a few comments on said list. First, where is the horror genre? Mystery is not horror. The Shining should have been on this list somewhere. Horror is its own genre and worthy of a top 10 list. Second, Raiders of the Lost Arc should also appear on one of these lists. However, it doesn't really fit into any of the genres as defined by the AFI. Technically it's not fantasy since it's set firmly in this world and it's probably not long enough to be an epic (or boring enough). Maybe they could have also included an action list. Also, when commenting remember that the AFI is the American Film Insitute. On one blog I checked out people were commenting that The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly should have made the list. It's an Italian film so it was rightly left off.

There's my peace. Hopefully I've gotten the ball rolling. Next week I'll be discussing The Happening but without any spoilers!

The New TV Cannot Get Here Soon Enough!

After watching Cloverfield this weekend and missing half of it because of my current tv's poor picture quality, I have finally broken down and ordered a new television. I am getting a respectable 31-inch, HD, flat-screen television. It will be glorious and will be in for pick-up this weekend. I can't wait. Then I shall rerent Cloverfield and see what I missed. Despite my television frustrations, however, I still managed to enjoy a bit of pop culture this week.

Television: In Plain Sight
I purposely waiting until Monday to post my choices this week; the reason being that I wanted to watch one more episode of In Plain Sight, a new series on USA Network. If you've never heard of the show, the storyline follows Mary, a US Marshall who works for the Witness Protection Agency. I should probably like this woman because she is a strong, smart woman who is career-driven. However, I don't. I've watched two episodes and I have to say that I won't go out of my way to catch any more. In truth, Mary is annoying. There is very little that is likeable about her. She is too flawed. Some might complain that if her character were played by a man, I would excuse the flaws. Not true. I also have no patience for the annoyingly flawed male characters on shows like ER and Grey's Anatomy. (And don't get me started with the god-awful show about four male friends who spent their time discussing their sexual escapades on the golf course. I don't even remember that show's title because I couldn't get through 15 minutes of one episode.) I like flawed, don't get me wrong. But there needs to be something to balance the flaws out. In Plain Sight's writers just haven't figured out what that is for Mary quite yet and, as a result, she has too many rough edges. The question is whether or not they will ever get the chance.

Film: The Assassination of Jesse James...
Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck are both excellent in this film, as is the much-ignored-by-critics Sam Rockwell (loved him as the over-the-top villain in the first Charlie's Angels film). However, this film did not need to be over two hours in length. When are filmmakers going to realize that excellent movies can be shorter than 120 minutes? Most silent films clock in at less than 90 minutes and some of the greats of the 50s and 60s fall between 90 and 120. Anyway, despite the slow moments here and there, the end of this film is excellent. I'm not going to tell you what happens because that would give it away. haha. Seriously, what happens to Robert Ford after he kills Jesse James is worth the long wait. The film really paints an interesting picture of the dynamics between Ford and James and the impossible situation both are in at the end. Rent this film but don't be afraid to fast-forward through much of the middle, especially if you know any history of the American West.

Book: The Historian
People have been after me to read this book since it was published in 2005. I finally got around to reading it. And I liked it. Historically, it is pretty true to the life of Vlad Dracula. I've read the history of the man and so has Elizabeth Kostova, the author. She's spot on. What I really like about this book, however, is Kostova's ability to simultaneously juggle far-past, past, present, soon-to-be-present, fiction, and history all at the same time. Her movement between storylines is seamless and that's no easy task for any writer. In addition, she weaves the information together into a cohesive whole without it feeling forced (for the most part). I would have liked a little more discussion of Dracula's mortal line but that's okay. It's a big book and by no means a quick read. But it's one of those beautiful stories that is worth taking the time to read.

Welcome to Summer TV!

Another summer is about to begin and the intelligent tv is nowhere to be found on the major networks. No, I'm not surprised. Maybe some day the big cheeses will notice that the cable networks get so many summer viewers because their offerings aren't dumb. Do we really need another bachelor/bachelorette tv show? Does anyone really expect those people to stay together? Please. My brain is revolting just thinking about the summer network offerings. Instead, I prefer silly shows and infotainment. Does this make me a better person? Probably not. I just like to think that I have a smidgeon of higher standards for my mindless fare. And to that end...

Television: Ice Road Truckers
Season Two starts tonight, baby! I raved about this show when I discovered it last summer and I can't wait to see the crew start up those ice roads again tonight at 10 on the History Channel. The show is in the same vein as Deadliest Catch, which I actually don't watch. These iron-willed truckers with balls of steel make their way up many miles of 3-foot thick ice to deliver massively heavy equipment to various diamond mines in Canada. They actually drive the ice roads with their hands on the door handle so they can bail if their truck goes through the ice. They have very little time to escape before sinking with the truck into freezing waters. What a lifestyle choice! I hear some of the old favorites from last season will be back as well as some newbies. I'm really looking forward to the start of another season.

Film: Sweeney Todd
I was first introduced to Stephen Sondheim in college with the musical Company and I fell in love. Although Sweeney isn't my favorite Sondheim (I love Company and Into the Woods too much), it's one of the most dark and provocative. Tim Burton was just the man to direct this adaptation. Johnny Depp and Helena Bohnam Carter may not have the chops of the Broadway veterans, but their singing works here because it's Sondheim. Sondheim music is extremely difficult to sing - and I speak from experience - and it's not meant to be beautiful and melodious; that would go against many of his characters' personalities. When you sit down to watch this film, don't judge it based on the musical abilities of its leads (especially Alan Rickman). Instead, enjoy the darkness of the humor and brilliant choice in setting and costumes. Consider Sweeney horror-lite and perfect for an evening with the air conditioning running and a pitcher of margaritas. By the way, if you're a Buffy fan here's your trivia tidbit for the week: Joss Whedon loves Sondheim and modeled his musical episode, "Once More With Feeling," after Sondheim's own musical style.

Book: Bitten
My friend Wendi is currently reading this first book in Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series and I thought it deserved a mention from me here on the blog. Published in 2004, Bitten introduces readers to Armstrong's female werewolf, Elena, who is the only female werewolf ever. She struggles between a "normal" life and her pack but realizes that she is different and cannot be "normal." But then, what is normal? This book and its sequels - Stolen and Broken - are excellent summer beach reading. And if you're not going to the beach, they are excellent summer porch reading. They are light, easy to get through, and involve some pretty hot sex. What more could you want? Once you finish Elena's story, you can pick up Armstrong's other women's tales in her other books.

The Mighty, Mighty Bard

I went with friends to Staunton, VA this past weekend to see three performances by the American Shakespeare Center, which performs in the Blackfriar Theatre, an exact replica of the one Shakespeare wrote for. They were phenomenal! I cannot say enough good things about the touring company we saw to do them justice. Therefore, I will just leave it at phenomenal. In light of my lovely trip, I've decided to comment on the three plays. I know this is a bit off my usual pop culture beaten path, but, as I remind my students, Shakespeare was the pop culture of his day.

Taming of the Shrew
Taming has long been one of my favorite plays, despite the extreme anti-powerful woman statement. If you need a plot summary, just watch Ten Things I Hate About You, which is based on the play. The woman who played Katherina, Ginna Hoben, was tremendous. Kate is a tough character to embrace, especially since she spends much of her time complaining and torturing her sister, Bianca. Yet Hoben played her with pizazz. Josh Carpenter, who played Petruchio, was also excellent. He was a good match for Hoben and even had a little Heath Ledger swager to him. These two had really good chemistry, which made for an excellent play. That said, it is difficult to watch this play in the postfeminism era. Essentially, Petruchio starves and browbeats Kate into complete and utter submission. Still, I like this play and its humor.

The Merchant of Venice
Before the show began, Wendi asked me why I liked this play so much. I couldn't really tell her at the time; I just remember really enjoying it after reading it in college. The story follows Antonio, a merchant, who allows his very good friend Bassanio to borrow money on his credit so that Bassanio can woo his love, Portia. Bassanio goes to Shylock, a Jewish money lender, who demands a pound of flesh from Antonio's heart if he cannot pay. Antonio loses his ships and cargo and cannot pay; Shylock demands his pound of flesh, which would kill Antonio. Portia masquerades as a judge and tells Shylock he can have his flesh but he cannot take any blood. In the end, Antonio gets half of Shylock's wealth and Shylock is forced to convert to Christianity. This play was my favorite of the three. I like the play because Shakespeare recognizes that Jews are not necessarily bad people but put into a bad situation by Christians. Yet, Shakespeare doesn't do anything more than this. He still brings about ruin to Shylock, who has every right to be angry with the Christian population and who deserves his pound of flesh. In addition, Shylock's daughter, Jessica, has run away and eloped with Lorenzo, but she is not happy despite her conversion to Christianity. The only happy people are the Christians who have tricked Shylock out of his money and revenge. Merchant is a complex comment on anti-Semitism. What really wowed me about this performance was its ending. Jessica is so distraught that she topples over the money tables being used as the set. The entire place was silent and all you heard was the table thrown over and the change on it spilling over the stage. Although Shakespeare gives no indication that Jessica is so upset at the end of the play, it was an excellent interpretation by the director. I was moved to tears at the end because of Alisa Ledyard's performance as Jessica.

Henry V
This was my first time with Henry V. I don't remember doing the Henry cycle in Shakespeare class in college (but Jennica may want to correct me on this). If I had read this play in the past, I did not remember it. Henry V invades France and succeeds. He marries Katherine, Princess of France, and unites the country for a brief time. This play is about the invasion and a little about his brief courtship of Katherine. I liked this play the least, but that was simply because I didn't know it at all and so it was harder for me to follow; it was still brilliant. A crash-course in Brit history during intermission brought me up to speed and I was able to better grasp the end. Evan Hoffman, who played Henry, was fantastic. His Saint Crispin Day Speech was profoundly moving. He moved around and in the audience to give it and I even wanted to fight for him. I look forward to seeing Henry V again as I'm sure I'll get much more out of it next time. What really impressed me about this play was that 10 people played 46 roles. The point of the American Shakespeare Center is to recreate as much of the original performance's feel as possible. One way they do this is to have a small company, just 12 people in the touring group. To watch the same actors portray multiple roles was excellent in all three plays, but especially in this one as it had significantly more roles to it.