Do you know it is going to be 50 degrees here today, tomorrow, and Tuesday? WTF? It's the middle of December and where's the snow? I actually didn't wear a scarf and gloves to go outside this morning. And people say there's no such thing as global warming. HA! Anyway, yesterday I was a slug, seriously. I vegged most of the afternoon and all night. It was great. Don't you love those days? If you plan on a slug-fest any time soon, here are three items for you to enjoy.
Film: Amelie
Amelie was on Ovation last night. I sat through the hour of commercials just to once again enjoy this French flick. It never gets old, folks! This 2001 film still makes me smile. Part of that is because Audrey Tautou (of The DiVinci Code) is so darn cute. She's such a wonderful oddball and she really makes the film lovely. Also, the supporting cast of quirky characters adds to the overall fun of the film. I've only seen a handful of French films, but a couple of these character actors have popped up in those films. This is not a Christmas film per se, but the idea of helping your fellow man in small ways certainly puts one in the Christmas spirit. This is not a "pay it forward" kind of film. And sometimes Amelie's little plans to help do not always pan out as she intends. But the film will make you feel just a little bit better about this world.
Television: Heroes
Let me say up front that I am not saying you should be watching Heroes this season. Frankly, it's getting a bit annoying. I agree with Entertainment Weekly that it's about time to kill off some heroes to lighten the load. They can begin with Mohinder. Also, the whole good/bad/who can tell storyline with Gabriel has to go. He's clearly good in the future so let's get him there for goodness sake. And I was really surprised about the whole Ella twist. And what about Hiro?! How many times is he going to end up in the past??? But I digress. I mostly want to point out some brilliant guest casting. A couple of weeks ago Seth Green and Breckin Meyer were in a two-episode story arc as a couple of comic book geeks. Totally an in-joke! I loved it and snickered my way through their scenes. Maybe if Tim Kring had more moments of clarity like he had when he cast Green and Meyers, the show wouldn't suck so much.
Book: ??
Sorry folks, I haven't a book to recommend for Christmas reading right now. I just started one and am not along enough to decide if it's good enough to recommend. I have a shelf full of books staring me in the face and I intend to plow through as many as possible before the second week in January. Wish me luck!
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Books are for chumps anyhow...just kidding. Amelie, YES! What a magical world, and thanks to that film I can't go to Mount Washington or another place with an urban view without wondering...you know. Have you seen any of Jenuet's other films, other than Alien:Resurection, most noteably Delicatessen?
What, no Gift of the Magi? No A Christmas Carol? No Olive the Other Reindeer (a personal favorite!)? No Twas the Night before Christmas?
Ah, Heroes. I watch Heroes now mostly just to make fun of it. EW does a great recap every Tuesday pointing out all the inconsistencies that is highly entertaining.
Sylar/Gabriel HAD the potential to be an awesome character--if the writers would have figured out what they were doing with him! What is his motivation? Like you said, he's good, he's bad, who can tell? I actually thought it was interesting when Gabriel was fighting his proclivity/ability to murder people. Finally an explanation for WHY he killed. Flawed villains are usually the most interesting (see: Spike, Angel). And the chemistry between him and Kristen Bell was great! I hear she was only contracted to be on the show for a short time but still: why develop all that chemistry if it's for nothing?
I don't think you can count on any of the flashforwards as actually going to happen (Sylar being good, having a kid). One thing they need to cut out of this show is time travel. It works on Lost because those folks clearly have a plan. Heroes does not.
I loved the Seth Green/Breckin Meyer scenes too--so entertaining! Hiro's scene with his mother last week was well-done too. That's why this show is so maddening: it still has potential. But I usually end up at 10 p.m. on a Monday night with a mental list of at least five inconsistencies or stupid plot/character developments that happened in that episode alone. I'm sorry to see Pushing Daisies go, but maybe Bryan Fuller's return to Heroes will help.
Yeah, don't get me started about "Pushing Daisies." I hate network television. What will they replace it with? Probably another stupid-ass reality show. Please. Does anyone really care about bachelors, bachelorettes, and idol wanna-bes?
Sadly, we live in an era where teenagers rule the airwaves. I have no problems with teen-geared television as long as there's something interesting for non-teens to watch but that seems to be a rarity anymore. Where are the smart, witty, original shows? Oh right, they're being cancelled to make way for hooch-irific sluts and idiots who do not, in any way, shape, or form, reflect the majority of Americans.
It seems like every time I like a show, it gets canned. Oh well. At least now I have more time to read. Unlike what the networks apparently believe, I often go days without tuning in at prime time.
Speaking of getting canned, did you all see that Joss Whedon's new show "Dollhouse" - you know, the one all the critics are looking forward to - was sent to die on Friday nights. That Friday night timeslot did wonders for Whedon's "Firefly." Here's another show I will enjoy for all of one season before it goes to the great television beyond.
Thank goodness for television on DVD.
Between ABC canning four shows I watch (PD, Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, and Boston Legal) and the Jay Leno 10 p.m. decision, I am in complete agreement. TV networks suck. I didn't love Pushing Daisies, but at least it was creative and different.
I haven't heard what will be happening on Wednesdays except that that is when Lost will air. (Thank God for Lost!)
You are right about the age bracket. Boston Legal did a fantastic episode a few weeks ago in which John Larroquette's character brought a suit again the TV networks for age discrimination. (Typical David Kelley fun. :-) He mentioned how people over 50 have more discretionary spending and generally watch more TV, so why don't networks program for them? He even said, "The only show on TV with lead characters over 50 is Boston Leg...oh wait, I can't say the name because it would break the fourth wall." SO funny. (BL's main characters are James Spader, William Shatner, Candice Bergen, and John Larroquette.) I would think about how I was younger than them, but it doesn't make a difference if a show is well-written. Heck, I loved the Golden Girls when I was around 10 or so!
As for Dollhouse. I can't imagine why Whedon would WANT to work with Fox again after the horrible way Firefly was treated. I have read that Fox was not happy with the way Joss was developing the show and Fox shut down production while retools were made...so maybe there are serious problems in the show.
At least Fringe will be sticking around--lucky for us, it's going to be on after American Idol in the spring, so it should do better. (Sad, right?)
No spell...late semester...fire bad... arg...delete comment with embarassing typos...zzzz
I think it was Theodor Adorno who said that the US culture industry makes sure a 14 year old can follow the narrative, which in turn makes everyone subject to the culture industry 14 years old.
All my students think me mad when I can't discuss what happened on the last "American Idol" or the latest "Survivor". Give me a good book any day. When television goes to pot, I'd rather face the inquisition than suffer through an episode of "Momma's Boys" or "Big Brother" (Is that still on? Fortunately, I wouldn't know.).
Hear, hear!!! (Hm, is that the right spelling?)
If it weren't for cable networks, I would never watch television. I didn't even sit through "T:SCC" or "Heroes" last night. I much preferred finishing a chapter in my new book and watching an episode of "Big Love."
Seriously, I have no problems with teenage-oriented television. I certainly enjoyed my fair share of teeny-bopper programming in my youth. But at least there was something interesting for adults as well. I remember all the action shows like "Knight Rider" and "The A-Team" as well as the "Dynasty-type" shows and "The Love Boat." My big problem is with the clear lack of good hour-long dramas. If it's not about the medical or legal system, it's not going to stay around, and that's sad. Instead, it's going to be replaced with things like "Farmer Wants a Wife" and "Wife Swap."
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