Sorry about last week, folks. I came down with the flu and spent all weekend curled up on the couch. But I'm better now! This week's highlight was the most anticipated graphic novel adaptation ever...
Film: Watchmen
Who watches the Watchmen? Apparently a lot of folks considering the theater I was in was pretty packed last night. Despite a law suit, Zach Snyder's adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novel - possibly the best graphic novel EVER - premiered this weekend. I loved it. It was a very true adaptation meaning that Snyder rarely strayed from the dialogue and artwork of the original. This means, folks, that the film is explicit with both sex and violence. I would not recommend this film for kids or even young teenagers. The film has the look and feel of the graphic novel as well as the 1980s (which is when the story takes place). The cast of (mostly) unknowns is great. I will say, however, that Patrick Wilson (Dan Dreiberg/Nite Owl) looks a little too much like Clark Griswald for my taste. Otherwise, the film is great. If you love the graphic novel, go see it. If you don't like graphic novels/comic books, don't because you won't like this film at all.
Television: Amazing Race
I have no idea what season of Amazing Race this is, but it doesn't matter. I don't always watch the entire season of this reality show. I only watch when the mix of teams is interesting. This season, that mix is very interesting. There are more "normal" teams than usual, meaning that the number of him/bimbos are at a minimum. I especially like the mom/son and father/son teams. I've talked about Race before, I know. There is just something about this show that draws my attention. You have to be somewhat knowledgeable about the world to win this show. For example, one of the tasks tonight was to put the following letters in order - VEHOKCH - to form the name of a Russion playwrite. Many teams struggled. How would you do?
Book: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Sherman Alexie rocks. Need I say more? If so, let me tell you that his young adult, autobiographical novel is so much fun to read. Diary takes the reader on a tour of reservation life versus the white culture. I'd like to say that the non-indigenous Americans have come a long way in their relations with the native cultures; sadly, we haven't. Alexie brings that tough fact home in a brilliant and funny way. You'll laugh as you read, but you'll also pause to think about how bad the reservations really are. I had no idea what kind of poverty and alcoholism ran rampant on reservations until reading this book. But don't think the novel is entirely a downer. The message is a bright one: be yourself and try your best and things will work out. Indian also has a collection of quirky illustrations that will make you smile.
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15 comments:
I've always been partial to a story called Rothschild's Fiddle by Anton Chekhov. A friend of mine and I had a very lively debate about that one evening. It was quite fun.
So, what do we think of Dollhouse? I missed it this week and am not too bummed about it (though I am sorry I missed SCC). I thought the second episode was good (out in the wilderness), but all the others have left me cold.
Breaking Bad started last night. I highly recommend.
I watched the first two eps of Dollhouse and missed the last two. I'm not bothered about missing them, though. I haven't been too impressed so far. I think I'll go on fox.com next week and catch up. I want to give the show a chance. I am also behind on SCC so I hope they are online as well.
You think Patrick Wilson looks like Chevy Chase?! I have to say, I think he is seriously hot in Phantom of the Opera. (As is Gerard Butler, to be fair!)
I was tempted to start Dollhouse and then didn't. I know, Whedon travesty. But seriously, do you really think this show will last till next year? I'll see if there's a nice wrapup and a DVD release, and then I will watch it.
I started watching Breaking Bad last year and sadly did not continue, but it is a great show. (Hope you all watch Mad Men too, speaking of AMC!)
I like parts of League of Amazing Gentlemen, but all of your criticisms are spot on (particularly the first).
And speaking of Tom Sawyer...Krista, did you catch Shane West on ER last fall? It's likely he will be back again, especially since Neela ditched the Australian guy now. Supposedly this Thursday is the big reunion episode with George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, et. al. Noah Wyle's character has already been on for a few weeks. Dr. Carter is waiting for a kidney transplant due to the stabbing from many years ago.
I did see the last Shane West episode, but didn't know he was coming back.
I also didn't know George Clooney would be back. They only mention Hathaway, Carter and Benton in the promos. That seems pretty dumb to me if they want ratings!
They're trying to keep Clooney coming back as as surprise, but I think it was this week's EW that said his appearance is "the worst kept secret in Hollywood." Maybe they think people will tune in to see the rest of the alums anyway, and Clooney will just be a surprise, that they don't need to promote it. And the ad does make a point of saying "ALL your favorites will be back."
I had heard that Shane West would be on twice this year. Ray has been in Neela's storyline almost every week. He sent her a CD on Valentine's Day, always calls her on her phone, etc. They are definitely keeping him as part of the storyline. I would imagine that if he weren't coming back, the writers wouldn't need to show that Ray and Neela are still in touch all the time.
I have to say that I am so far out of the "ER" loop. I stopped watching after about three years, right around the time Anthony Edwards died. (Hm, I suppose they won't be bringing him back.)
Hot or not, Patrick Wilson is definitely sporting the Clark Griswald look from the first "Vacation" film. :-) I will say, though, that he has an excellent body. You get to see almost all of it.
Anthony Edwards actually was back! :-) This past fall they did a flashback episode. Angela Bassett, who is playing the new head of the ER, had memories of when her son died in the ER years ago. She blamed Greene for his death. Romano and Laura Innes (I'm blanking on her character's name) were in it too. (Though they have not brought back Pratt or Gallant, who are dead too.) William H. Macy also came in for an ep.
ER is actually pretty good right now. It wouldn't be too hard to follow if you wanted to watch; there are only 3 or 4 episodes left and a 2-hour finale. The main story is Carter waiting for a kidney transplant. There's speculation that one of the former docs will give him a kidney.
I haven't watched ER in years either, and like you, Heather, I think it was around the time Greene died. I might try to tune in to see alums just because. If one of the docs helps Carter by offering a kidney, I wouldn't be surprised if it's Benton, given their friendship. My hope is that they don't kill him off--they tend to do that a lot (Romano, Greene, and now Pratt and Galiant). Goodness...maybe working at County is dangerous!
Yeah--if you're a male doc at County, the outlook isn't all that great for you. At least they didn't kill off Kovac when he left!
There is a front-page story on zap2it.com today about Clooney returning tonight, so it's no secret anymore.
One more ER-related thing to add. The actress who plays Neela is pregnant in real life, and apparently it's going to be written into the show. I've read that it's not going to be a conventional storyline. So since Angela Bassett's character is trying to get pregnant and failing, maybe Neela will be a surrogate. Just a guess. Apparently you can see "Neela" showing already, though I haven't noticed it.
Sorry Heather--I seem to have hijacked your comments with ER. :-)
Hijack away! That's what this blog is for. When else do we all get to chat about tv and other fun stuff????
ehhh. ER was OK, I guess. I liked the Carter/Benton parts the best.
Who gave him the kidney?
Guest star Susan Sarandon's grandson was brain dead at the hospital where Ross & Hathaway work in Seattle. The kid was an organ donor and his parts were sent far & wide.
Ernest Borgnine also had a guest appearance, which seemed sort of gratuitous to me. Didn't seem to fit in with any of the plot lines.
I liked both storylines. It was great that they worked the older cast members into the storyline. I was expecting a gratuitous one-scene appearance, where Ross/Hathaway just show up to see Carter. Nice that it was more creative and that Clooney/Margulies were willing to do so much more.
I did wonder until the very end if Ross and Hathaway weren't actually still together, though. They acted like a divorced couple that worked together and was still friends. Glad to be wrong!
I think they should have excised the Borgnine storyline, the baby, and anything that didn't have to do with the two transplants. There was already enough there to sustain a one-hour episode with all those guest stars. The only non-old-cast-member storyline that really needed to be there was the little girl and the woman needing the heart transplant--that's been going on for weeks. The Cajun guy from True Blood was her father! (Sans accent. :-)
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