First off, I have to say it absolutely did not feel right rooting for the Packers to win a game. It felt a bit dirty and a bit wrong. To top it all off, they failed to pull it off, making that disgusting act a futile one. May us Bears fans never have to root for them again.
Looking back at my preseason post about the Bears, I guess I did get their final record right. Of course, I thought they'd go 5-3 in the first half, and 5-3 in the second half. Turns out they were able to beat the Cowboys and the six crummy teams they played in the first half of the season. Unfortunately, they were unable to match my projections for the second half, going 3-5 instead of 5-3. In many years 10-6 would be good enough to get you into the playoffs. This year, however, it wasn't quite good enough, at least for the Bears.
Although I got the record right, I can't say I was so close on how they got that record. The optimism about the offense was misplaced, as the offensive line, receiver, and at times Jay Cutler stank it up on the field. Brandon Marshall had a good season, but that tends to happen when you are the target of 99.9999%* of all passes thrown. As fun as it was to watch him catch the ball, it was much less fun watching Kellen Davis, Devin Hester, and the rest drop catchable balls. I suppose Alshon Jeffery could become a good number two in the next couple of years, provided he doesn't get injured.
The less said about the offensive line, the better. To be fair, they did seem to get better as the year went on, and they probably weren't as bad as Dallas, or Buffalo, or Arizona. Even the Packers had about as bad of a line as the Bears did. That doesn't change the fact that it was miserable every time one of them false started or held, killing a game changing drive.
So if the offense was as aggressively bad as usual, how did they win ten games? Why, because the questionable old defense somehow pulled out a pretty great season. Charles Tillman had a monster year, and Tim Jennings played very well. Even the safeties, ever a concern since Mike Brown suffered his last season killing injury as a Bear, weren't egregious. Many times the line was actually able to get pressure, helping create more turnovers. Those turnovers are the life blood of a Lovie Smith defense, and without them the "bend, but don't break" nature just will not work.
So where do the Bears go from here? Considering this is being posted at 8:00 AM CST the morning after the season ended, I can't quite say yet. It kind of depends on where GM Phil Emery comes down on Lovie Smith. Even if Smith is retained for one more lame duck season, or somehow is given a undeserved contract extension, the team is at a crossroads. The post Brian Urlacher era may be fast approaching, and several other defensive players will soon be too old, too slow, or too expensive to keep on the team. They clearly have work to do with the offensive line and tight ends. This could get much worse before it gets better. I'm not sure of anything other than the Bears don't win a Super Bowl with Smith as the coach.
*A bit of an exaggeration, although not by enough.
UPDATED
Turns out the Lovie Smith era is over in Chicago. Although I don't think Smith was a bad coach, his teams often failed to do the little things that championship teams tend to do. All of those stupid drive killing false starts, frustrating timeouts because Cutler didn't get the play fast enough, and questionable replay flags made being a Bears fan annoying. The fact is, you can't keep your job as a coach when you miss the playoffs two years in a row after 7-3 and 7-1 starts.
The names being thrown around at this time are all offensive coordinators. Hopefully whoever they hire will be able to do what's necessary to fix the team. Frankly, I'm surprised how quickly the Bears did this, as far too often in the past they tend to dither and dawdle when making decisions like this. I'm pretty sure the 2013 Bears will look much different than the 2012 Bears.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Reasons Why Erin Loves the Whedonverse: Bonus #15.5!
Reasons Why Erin Loves the Whedonverse #15.5: Dr. Horrible/Loki
Originally this was just a link tacked on to the previous post. I did this because I was a) lazy and b) stupid. Although not an official post in her list, this one is just as interesting as any of the rest, and thus deserving of it's own spotlight.
I think Erin has a pretty interesting idea here, as there certainly are similarities between the two characters. I'm not as convinced as she is, as I think they might be so similar because Whedon likes creating characters like that. Perhaps he drew inspiration for Loki from Dr. Horrible, but I just don't see a direct connection. I do agree it would be kind of great if there was a direct connection, though.
I'm kind of surprised she didn't also bring up the parallels between Captain Hammer and Thor. I guess Thor's noble nature makes him less likely to talk about his genitalia, something Captain Hammer doesn't seem to mind doing. Still, they can both be at times a bit oblivious and, well, dumb.
SPOILERS FOR THE AVENGERS AND DOCTOR HORRIBLE CAN BE FOUND BELOW. OKAY, ONLY REALLY SPOILERS IF YOU'VE SEEN ONE OF THEM. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
So who's Penny in The Avengers? Agent Coulson? Actually, I kind of like that parallel. Although I doubt Loki enjoyed eating frozen yogurt with Coulson.
Originally this was just a link tacked on to the previous post. I did this because I was a) lazy and b) stupid. Although not an official post in her list, this one is just as interesting as any of the rest, and thus deserving of it's own spotlight.
I think Erin has a pretty interesting idea here, as there certainly are similarities between the two characters. I'm not as convinced as she is, as I think they might be so similar because Whedon likes creating characters like that. Perhaps he drew inspiration for Loki from Dr. Horrible, but I just don't see a direct connection. I do agree it would be kind of great if there was a direct connection, though.
I'm kind of surprised she didn't also bring up the parallels between Captain Hammer and Thor. I guess Thor's noble nature makes him less likely to talk about his genitalia, something Captain Hammer doesn't seem to mind doing. Still, they can both be at times a bit oblivious and, well, dumb.
SPOILERS FOR THE AVENGERS AND DOCTOR HORRIBLE CAN BE FOUND BELOW. OKAY, ONLY REALLY SPOILERS IF YOU'VE SEEN ONE OF THEM. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
So who's Penny in The Avengers? Agent Coulson? Actually, I kind of like that parallel. Although I doubt Loki enjoyed eating frozen yogurt with Coulson.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Reasons Why Erin Loves the Whedonverse #15
Reasons Why Erin Loves the Whedonverse: Dances of Pylea
For humans, the hell dimension of Pylea is not a great place to be. At best you are worked to death as livestock, unless you have visions, then you are well-fed livestock puppets of the ruling religious leaders. For the other residents, however, it's just there home and place to live. Not necessarily a great place, but a place nonetheless. There's no music, but there is dancing. As long as you are not human and like a world of moral absolutes, Pylea isn't so bad. In other words, Angel loved it, at least until he realized that he'd involuntarily turn into a full-fledged vampire demon thing.
I mean, Lorne's cousin seems to enjoy adventuring in a world of clear cut morality. And his brother Numfar (the Mose Schrute of the Deathwok clan)* seems to enjoy his life as the family's dancing fool. Had Lorne not developed the ability to sing and appreciate music, he probably would have been content with the simple life of Pylea. Of course, that isn't how it went, so it was fortunate for him he got sent to our dimension, where cocktails and music are plentiful.
The visit to Pylea for the Angel gang was important for many reasons. It introduced Winifred "Fred" Burkle, the Groosalugg, and fleshed out Lorne's backstory a bit. In addition, it conveyed the idea that demons weren't necessarily actively evil. It had been hinted before on Buffy and Angel, but would become far more prevalent as time went on.
Still, as important that series of episodes were, they are still favorites of mine because they are pretty damn funny. And of course, the funniest part of those episodes were the dances. So dance on, Numfar, do the dance of Honored Thanks for our accolades, as I will join in with the Dance of Joviality.
ALSO: Check out Erin's "bonus" reason, #15.5: Dr. Horrible/Loki.
*Interestingly, Numfar was played by Joss Whedon, while Mose is played by Michael Schur. I like how these two favorite show creators/writers of mine played small, yet hilarious, bit parts on their shows.
For humans, the hell dimension of Pylea is not a great place to be. At best you are worked to death as livestock, unless you have visions, then you are well-fed livestock puppets of the ruling religious leaders. For the other residents, however, it's just there home and place to live. Not necessarily a great place, but a place nonetheless. There's no music, but there is dancing. As long as you are not human and like a world of moral absolutes, Pylea isn't so bad. In other words, Angel loved it, at least until he realized that he'd involuntarily turn into a full-fledged vampire demon thing.
I mean, Lorne's cousin seems to enjoy adventuring in a world of clear cut morality. And his brother Numfar (the Mose Schrute of the Deathwok clan)* seems to enjoy his life as the family's dancing fool. Had Lorne not developed the ability to sing and appreciate music, he probably would have been content with the simple life of Pylea. Of course, that isn't how it went, so it was fortunate for him he got sent to our dimension, where cocktails and music are plentiful.
The visit to Pylea for the Angel gang was important for many reasons. It introduced Winifred "Fred" Burkle, the Groosalugg, and fleshed out Lorne's backstory a bit. In addition, it conveyed the idea that demons weren't necessarily actively evil. It had been hinted before on Buffy and Angel, but would become far more prevalent as time went on.
Still, as important that series of episodes were, they are still favorites of mine because they are pretty damn funny. And of course, the funniest part of those episodes were the dances. So dance on, Numfar, do the dance of Honored Thanks for our accolades, as I will join in with the Dance of Joviality.
ALSO: Check out Erin's "bonus" reason, #15.5: Dr. Horrible/Loki.
*Interestingly, Numfar was played by Joss Whedon, while Mose is played by Michael Schur. I like how these two favorite show creators/writers of mine played small, yet hilarious, bit parts on their shows.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
The Art of Lying: Elim Garak
This is the first of a twice weekly series of posts about our favorite secondary characters from TV series. Any character who spent time on a show as a recurring character, even if they later became part of the main cast, qualifies. We start with Elim Garak
SPOILERS FOR A 20 YEAR OLD SHOW ARE BELOW, SO BEWARE I SUPPOSE
Exile is a theme of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, especially in the middle seasons of the show. At one time in season five, three main characters and one recurring character were official exiles from their people and their homeworld. Worf lost his hard-won status in the Klingon Empire because he refused to support its war against Cardassia. Quark was exiled from Ferenginar because he broke a contract to save his life. Odo was banished from the Great Link of the Changelings and forced to be solid because he broke their one great commandment by killing one of his own. And Garak the Cardassian tailor, hmm....well he was banished from Cardassia for letting some Bajoran children go free. Or wait, as he banished because he accidentally killed the daughter of a prominent Cardassian leader? Actually, I think he might have been framed for letting prisoners go. Honestly, I doubt we'll ever find out why he was in exile. And that is one of many reasons why Garak is not only one of my favorite characters from the show, but one of my favorites from any show.
Garak, portrayed excellently by Andrew Robinson, was only in thirty-three episodes of the series. Like all great recurring characters, however, his impact far outweighed the relative lack of screentime. Name a great episode of the show ("The Wire", "Improbable Cause", "The Die is Cast", "In the Pale Moonlight", amongst others) and it's likely Garak was a central character in it. His friendship with Dr. Bashir was a highlight of the show, as it always was a treat to listen to Julian try to get the truth out of Garak about something, and never quite succeed. One of my favorite conversations of theirs revolved around the old story about the boy who cried wolf. Naturally, Garak took away a different moral from it than was intended.
To Garak, dissembling and "truthiness" was a way of life. It was a prefessional skill, something that had to be constantly honed and refined. Another favorite scene involved him doing just that, this time with Worf, a character who is pretty much unable to lie.
Although Garak clearly enjoys lying, as well as many of the other aspects of his previous career as a member of the Obsidian Order, he is without a doubt a professional and a Cardassian patriot. Behind all of the lies, the half-truths, and his nearly implacable sunny disposition and smile is a man with a definite moral code. Sometimes that morality is far different than the morality of the Terran, or a Klingon, or a Bajoran, but it still is there. He clearly is hurt by Cardassia joining the Dominion, and not just because his rival Gul Dukat benefited from the agreement. When he confronts the Female Changeling* about potential survivors of the joint attack by the Obsidian Order and Tal Shiar against the Dominion, his facade temporarily breaks as she tells him they are all dead. Sure, some of that was his feelings for his mentor (and later to be revealed father) Enabran Tain, but also pain at hearing his beloved Cardassia being trampled upon by the Dominion.
His love of Cardassia explains his pragmatic decision to embrace working with the Federation. That does't mean he ever particularly liked it. My favorite scene of his, and arguably my favorite scene of the show overall, comes from the season four premiere "Way of the Warrior". In it, Quark and Garak commiserate over having to rely upon the protection of the Federation as the quadrant moves ever closer to war with Dominion. Never before or again would root beer be such an apt metaphor for something.
In the end, Garak is able to go home, albeit a Cardassia that has been wrecked by years of war, strife, and occupation. There is little doubt Garak will help pick up the pieces, lying through his ever-smiling mouth the entire time. I doubt he would have it any other way.
*That is the closest to a name the character has. She tended to be closest thing to a leader of the Dominion the show had, even though the entirety of the Changelings were the effective leaders.
SPOILERS FOR A 20 YEAR OLD SHOW ARE BELOW, SO BEWARE I SUPPOSE
Exile is a theme of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, especially in the middle seasons of the show. At one time in season five, three main characters and one recurring character were official exiles from their people and their homeworld. Worf lost his hard-won status in the Klingon Empire because he refused to support its war against Cardassia. Quark was exiled from Ferenginar because he broke a contract to save his life. Odo was banished from the Great Link of the Changelings and forced to be solid because he broke their one great commandment by killing one of his own. And Garak the Cardassian tailor, hmm....well he was banished from Cardassia for letting some Bajoran children go free. Or wait, as he banished because he accidentally killed the daughter of a prominent Cardassian leader? Actually, I think he might have been framed for letting prisoners go. Honestly, I doubt we'll ever find out why he was in exile. And that is one of many reasons why Garak is not only one of my favorite characters from the show, but one of my favorites from any show.
Garak, portrayed excellently by Andrew Robinson, was only in thirty-three episodes of the series. Like all great recurring characters, however, his impact far outweighed the relative lack of screentime. Name a great episode of the show ("The Wire", "Improbable Cause", "The Die is Cast", "In the Pale Moonlight", amongst others) and it's likely Garak was a central character in it. His friendship with Dr. Bashir was a highlight of the show, as it always was a treat to listen to Julian try to get the truth out of Garak about something, and never quite succeed. One of my favorite conversations of theirs revolved around the old story about the boy who cried wolf. Naturally, Garak took away a different moral from it than was intended.
To Garak, dissembling and "truthiness" was a way of life. It was a prefessional skill, something that had to be constantly honed and refined. Another favorite scene involved him doing just that, this time with Worf, a character who is pretty much unable to lie.
Although Garak clearly enjoys lying, as well as many of the other aspects of his previous career as a member of the Obsidian Order, he is without a doubt a professional and a Cardassian patriot. Behind all of the lies, the half-truths, and his nearly implacable sunny disposition and smile is a man with a definite moral code. Sometimes that morality is far different than the morality of the Terran, or a Klingon, or a Bajoran, but it still is there. He clearly is hurt by Cardassia joining the Dominion, and not just because his rival Gul Dukat benefited from the agreement. When he confronts the Female Changeling* about potential survivors of the joint attack by the Obsidian Order and Tal Shiar against the Dominion, his facade temporarily breaks as she tells him they are all dead. Sure, some of that was his feelings for his mentor (and later to be revealed father) Enabran Tain, but also pain at hearing his beloved Cardassia being trampled upon by the Dominion.
His love of Cardassia explains his pragmatic decision to embrace working with the Federation. That does't mean he ever particularly liked it. My favorite scene of his, and arguably my favorite scene of the show overall, comes from the season four premiere "Way of the Warrior". In it, Quark and Garak commiserate over having to rely upon the protection of the Federation as the quadrant moves ever closer to war with Dominion. Never before or again would root beer be such an apt metaphor for something.
In the end, Garak is able to go home, albeit a Cardassia that has been wrecked by years of war, strife, and occupation. There is little doubt Garak will help pick up the pieces, lying through his ever-smiling mouth the entire time. I doubt he would have it any other way.
*That is the closest to a name the character has. She tended to be closest thing to a leader of the Dominion the show had, even though the entirety of the Changelings were the effective leaders.
Monday, December 24, 2012
12 Christmastime Favorites
I like Christmas movies, TV shows, and music. Whether Christmas is its focus, or just taking place in the background, it adds something special. That doesn't mean that I only like the usual super happy fluff that is associated with the holidays. Winter and the holidays can be at times depressing and filled with angst, and sometimes the best way to deal with this with entertainment that does not deny this. The following are some of my favorite specials, TV episodes, films, and even a soundtrack. This is by no means a comprehensive list, just a well-rounded list of my favorites.
It's A Wonderful Life
I was a latecomer to this film. Of course, I knew the gist of the story and had seen the famous scene where Jimmy Stewart runs through Bedford Falls saying "Merry Christmas" to everything and everybody in town. However, i didn't really know what the big deal was, until I actually saw the whole film. After watching George Bailey defer his dreams for so long to help others get ahead, get caught in a terrible situation, and get saved by seeing the terrible fate of all he loves (Bedford Falls is Pottertown, Uncle Billy is insane, and Mary IS A [GASP] LIBRARIAN) if he were never born. That sappy ending is well-earned by the rest of the movie. By the time I had finished it, I think I had something in my eye, and this had entered my annual Christmas watching rotation.
Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas
Jugband music playing otters, beavers, and porcupines from Jim Henson that takes place in the beautiful countryside of the eastern American highlands. What's not to like? I love how Paul Williams was able to make music that sounded like it had existed for decades. Sure, the Riverbottom Nightmare Band winning the talent contest was pretty implausible, but the combined song from the jugband and Ma Otter was much better than its wonderful parts. If only the labyrinthine rights bullcrap surrounding Henson's projects didn't prevent the Kermit wrappers from getting cut in the DVDs.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (TV Special AND soundtrack)
Such a great distillation of the Peanuts comic strip, with all of its bittersweet humour intact. Linus' retelling of the original Christmas story is one of my favorite TV scenes, as it cuts directly to the core meaning of the holiday, brushing away all of the commercial drivel and cheap artificiality.
As for the soundtrack, it is the only Christmas album I keep in my playlist year round. "Christmastime is here" is a part of one of my favorite movies (The Royal Tenenbaums and one of my favorite TV shows (Arrested Development). So yeah, it would be accurate to say I like it a lot.
Community - "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas"
This is Community at its best. It's a little bit (OK, really) weird, it's very funny, and a bit sad. In the end, the gang comes together for Abed, even if perhaps enabling his delusion isn't exactly the healthiest thing. After all, the holiday season is a time for us to come together during the coldest, darkest time of the year and light a candle of fellowship and, yes, community.
Futurama - "A Tale of Two Santas"
Not every one of my Christmas favorites are so heartwarming or affirming, at least not on the surface. Xmas of the future is a terrifying holiday, full of bad tidings of fear, hoping that Santa skips your house this year. Even when the Planet Express gang tries to restore Xmas to a truly merry holiday, they further ruin an exploited people and planet, while Bender gets sentenced to death for his troubles. We may all be spending our holidays huddled together, scared shitless, but at least we're together.
Right here WOULD be the video for the elves song from this episode, but apparently there is no clip of this on Youtube or Hulu, unless its hidden from sight with inaccurate keywords. You are so totally not adequate, Fox, Comedy Central, or whoever is behind this crap.
The Ice Harvest
Sometimes it feels good to watch a film that is not life affirming and does not have a truly happy ending. This is one of those films. I really enjoyed a mostly irredeemable John Cusack have a really bad night as his perfect crime becomes much less so. The icy rain just adds to the misery, giving it that feeling of bitter cold that only windswept plains of the midwest can give us Americans. Of course, it helps that there is plenty of laughs to be found, although most come from a great performance by Oliver Platt, as Cusack's friend and ex-wife's new husband.
Scrooge (1951)
This version is a family tradition, as we watch it every Christmas Eve. Alastair Sim is the one true Ebenezer Scrooge. I will not accept any other arguments, although you are welcome to try in the comments section.
The West Wing - "In Excelsis Deo" and "Noel"
Is the main story of "In Excelsis Deo" a bit cheesy, a bit cliche? Of course it is. You know what? I don't care. When "Little Drummer Boy" starts playing at the end, I always stop whatever I'm doing and watch it. Kathryn Joosten did such a great job as Mrs. Landingham, creating a impact far greater than the relatively small amount of time she spent on screen during her two seasons. This episode was one of her best.
From the great second season of the show, "Noel" is one of my personal favorites. For most of its run it is effectively a flashback of events leading up to a Christmas Eve therapy session for Josh, who is clearly in mental pain from his near fatal shooting the previous summer. After Adam Arkin finally help Josh break through and admit his wounded hand was from breaking his apartment's window, the session is dismissed and Josh walks out, unsure if he'll be able to keep his job. Leo is waiting for him outside, and, well, you'll just have to watch this.
Probably my favorite Leo speech from the show. In about a minute or so of time, this shows why Leo McGarry is such a great character. Also, a great showcase for the late John Spencer.
A Christmas Story
As long as I remember watching Christmas movies and TV specials, I remember watching this. From the VHS recorded from TV, to the marathons on TNT and TBS, and finally the DVD and Blu-ray releases, I've seen this dozens of times over the year. From the Bumpuses horde of hound dogs ravaging the family turkey, to the apathetic Santa and his terrifyingly indifferent elves, to the weird kid who really likes the Tin-man, this movie is just full of hilarious stuff, some of which is only hilarious to weird midwesterners like myself. Just remember to always be sure to drink your ovaltine, and you won't shoot your eye out.
South Park - "Woodland Critter Christmas"
Without Christmas, there wouldn't be a South Park. Putting aside it's holiday roots, the long running show has had many memorable Christmas episodes. Of them all, however, my favorite has to be this one.
I love how this episode turns the idea of cheerful woodland animals getting together for a holiday on its ear. I also like how the usual bad guy (i.e. the apex predator) is actually the good guy. When I watched this the first time, I wasn't that surprised it was revealed to be a story from Cartman (once Kyle was introduced it became pretty obvious), but enjoyed it nonetheless. The mixture of the faux-John Denver music with the terrifying yet still adorable woodland critters was something I don't think I ever anticipated seeing, at least not before South Park.
Honorable Mentions: A Muppet Family Christmas, Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974 TV Special), Bad Santa, Performance of "O, Holy Night" from Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: "The Christmas Show", The Office (U.S.) "Christmas Party" and The Office (U.K.) Christmas Special
It's A Wonderful Life
I was a latecomer to this film. Of course, I knew the gist of the story and had seen the famous scene where Jimmy Stewart runs through Bedford Falls saying "Merry Christmas" to everything and everybody in town. However, i didn't really know what the big deal was, until I actually saw the whole film. After watching George Bailey defer his dreams for so long to help others get ahead, get caught in a terrible situation, and get saved by seeing the terrible fate of all he loves (Bedford Falls is Pottertown, Uncle Billy is insane, and Mary IS A [GASP] LIBRARIAN) if he were never born. That sappy ending is well-earned by the rest of the movie. By the time I had finished it, I think I had something in my eye, and this had entered my annual Christmas watching rotation.
Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas
Jugband music playing otters, beavers, and porcupines from Jim Henson that takes place in the beautiful countryside of the eastern American highlands. What's not to like? I love how Paul Williams was able to make music that sounded like it had existed for decades. Sure, the Riverbottom Nightmare Band winning the talent contest was pretty implausible, but the combined song from the jugband and Ma Otter was much better than its wonderful parts. If only the labyrinthine rights bullcrap surrounding Henson's projects didn't prevent the Kermit wrappers from getting cut in the DVDs.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (TV Special AND soundtrack)
Such a great distillation of the Peanuts comic strip, with all of its bittersweet humour intact. Linus' retelling of the original Christmas story is one of my favorite TV scenes, as it cuts directly to the core meaning of the holiday, brushing away all of the commercial drivel and cheap artificiality.
As for the soundtrack, it is the only Christmas album I keep in my playlist year round. "Christmastime is here" is a part of one of my favorite movies (The Royal Tenenbaums and one of my favorite TV shows (Arrested Development). So yeah, it would be accurate to say I like it a lot.
Community - "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas"
This is Community at its best. It's a little bit (OK, really) weird, it's very funny, and a bit sad. In the end, the gang comes together for Abed, even if perhaps enabling his delusion isn't exactly the healthiest thing. After all, the holiday season is a time for us to come together during the coldest, darkest time of the year and light a candle of fellowship and, yes, community.
Futurama - "A Tale of Two Santas"
Not every one of my Christmas favorites are so heartwarming or affirming, at least not on the surface. Xmas of the future is a terrifying holiday, full of bad tidings of fear, hoping that Santa skips your house this year. Even when the Planet Express gang tries to restore Xmas to a truly merry holiday, they further ruin an exploited people and planet, while Bender gets sentenced to death for his troubles. We may all be spending our holidays huddled together, scared shitless, but at least we're together.
Right here WOULD be the video for the elves song from this episode, but apparently there is no clip of this on Youtube or Hulu, unless its hidden from sight with inaccurate keywords. You are so totally not adequate, Fox, Comedy Central, or whoever is behind this crap.
The Ice Harvest
Sometimes it feels good to watch a film that is not life affirming and does not have a truly happy ending. This is one of those films. I really enjoyed a mostly irredeemable John Cusack have a really bad night as his perfect crime becomes much less so. The icy rain just adds to the misery, giving it that feeling of bitter cold that only windswept plains of the midwest can give us Americans. Of course, it helps that there is plenty of laughs to be found, although most come from a great performance by Oliver Platt, as Cusack's friend and ex-wife's new husband.
Scrooge (1951)
This version is a family tradition, as we watch it every Christmas Eve. Alastair Sim is the one true Ebenezer Scrooge. I will not accept any other arguments, although you are welcome to try in the comments section.
The West Wing - "In Excelsis Deo" and "Noel"
Is the main story of "In Excelsis Deo" a bit cheesy, a bit cliche? Of course it is. You know what? I don't care. When "Little Drummer Boy" starts playing at the end, I always stop whatever I'm doing and watch it. Kathryn Joosten did such a great job as Mrs. Landingham, creating a impact far greater than the relatively small amount of time she spent on screen during her two seasons. This episode was one of her best.
From the great second season of the show, "Noel" is one of my personal favorites. For most of its run it is effectively a flashback of events leading up to a Christmas Eve therapy session for Josh, who is clearly in mental pain from his near fatal shooting the previous summer. After Adam Arkin finally help Josh break through and admit his wounded hand was from breaking his apartment's window, the session is dismissed and Josh walks out, unsure if he'll be able to keep his job. Leo is waiting for him outside, and, well, you'll just have to watch this.
Probably my favorite Leo speech from the show. In about a minute or so of time, this shows why Leo McGarry is such a great character. Also, a great showcase for the late John Spencer.
A Christmas Story
As long as I remember watching Christmas movies and TV specials, I remember watching this. From the VHS recorded from TV, to the marathons on TNT and TBS, and finally the DVD and Blu-ray releases, I've seen this dozens of times over the year. From the Bumpuses horde of hound dogs ravaging the family turkey, to the apathetic Santa and his terrifyingly indifferent elves, to the weird kid who really likes the Tin-man, this movie is just full of hilarious stuff, some of which is only hilarious to weird midwesterners like myself. Just remember to always be sure to drink your ovaltine, and you won't shoot your eye out.
South Park - "Woodland Critter Christmas"
Without Christmas, there wouldn't be a South Park. Putting aside it's holiday roots, the long running show has had many memorable Christmas episodes. Of them all, however, my favorite has to be this one.
I love how this episode turns the idea of cheerful woodland animals getting together for a holiday on its ear. I also like how the usual bad guy (i.e. the apex predator) is actually the good guy. When I watched this the first time, I wasn't that surprised it was revealed to be a story from Cartman (once Kyle was introduced it became pretty obvious), but enjoyed it nonetheless. The mixture of the faux-John Denver music with the terrifying yet still adorable woodland critters was something I don't think I ever anticipated seeing, at least not before South Park.
Honorable Mentions: A Muppet Family Christmas, Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974 TV Special), Bad Santa, Performance of "O, Holy Night" from Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: "The Christmas Show", The Office (U.S.) "Christmas Party" and The Office (U.K.) Christmas Special
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Reasons Why Erin Loves the Whedonverse #13
Reasons Why I Love the Whedonverse #13: "Shindig"
I have a soft spot for the engineers and mechanics of the sci-fi world. Geordi LaForge, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Chief Miles O'Brien are all favorite characters of mine. So Kaylee already is in the running for my favorite character before I even watch a second of the show. The fact that she is adorable, competent, and well rounded just clinches that distinction. As such, I have to concur with Erin that "Shindig" is a great episode (perhaps the greatest) of the late, lamented Firefly. We should all be so lucky to get as much joy from anything as Kaylee got from eating those strawberries.
And that is all I have to say about that. Go read Erin's post for actual content.
I have a soft spot for the engineers and mechanics of the sci-fi world. Geordi LaForge, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Chief Miles O'Brien are all favorite characters of mine. So Kaylee already is in the running for my favorite character before I even watch a second of the show. The fact that she is adorable, competent, and well rounded just clinches that distinction. As such, I have to concur with Erin that "Shindig" is a great episode (perhaps the greatest) of the late, lamented Firefly. We should all be so lucky to get as much joy from anything as Kaylee got from eating those strawberries.
And that is all I have to say about that. Go read Erin's post for actual content.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Dispatches from 2nd Breakfast: The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey
Next to watching movies, hiking is my favorite thing to do. I don't do it as much as I'd like, and it can be tough when I do hike as I'm fat as Bombur the dwarf*. Still, there's nothing like getting to the top of a ridge line and looking out over the valleys below. It makes all the effort worthwhile. Nothing beats that feeling of accomplishment as you drive away from a completed trail. Even if your legs are cramping and your back is sore. I remember once as I finished walking up Blood Mount-
"But Andrew, why are you writing about hiking? This is a pop culture blog, not a hiking blog. Don't you have a blog for hiking?"
Yes, I do. It's called Walk With Nature, and its pretty good**. However, if you will stop interrupting me, I'll get to the damn point.
Anyways, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a tale of a bunch of characters traveling through valleys, meadows, and mountains to reach the Lonely Mountain. Along the way, they go to Rivendell and climb up the Misty Mountains. They do spend some time on ponies, but eventually they travel by foot. As mentioned by Bilbo, they are definitely on an adventure.
In other words, of course I love this film. If it would have been just three hours of Gandalf, Bilbo, and the twelve dwarves hiking and camping I probably would have enjoyed it. The fact that it stars Martin Freeman in the role he was born to play, has a scene with the White Council***, and nails the Gollum and Bilbo riddle-off is just icing on the cake.
Sure, the movie drags in places. There are times during the dwarves arrival at Bag End where I wondered when they were going to get going. Were it about 15-20 minutes shorter, it would be a much tighter film. That doesn't mean I can find much to cut, just that it could benefit from some streamlining.
I've already seen the film twice, both times being the regular 2D showing. It sounds like the 48fps 3d is at best insignificant and at worst a disaster. If anybody who reads this has seen it in the other formats, please let us know how it was in the comments section.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is playing at theaters across the country. If you loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy, enjoy fantasy adventures, or just enjoy creative facial hair, I fully recommend this film.
Coming Soon: We'll be staying at home to catch up with some of the best films of the year that found their way to Netflix, plus a few classics I've never seen. Also, if luck turns my way, we'll be catching up on some other films in the theater.
*These things are related.
**When it's updated.
***For those uninitiated in the world of Middle Earth, that would be Elrond (Hugo Weaving), Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), Gandalf (Ian McKellen), and Saruman (Christopher Lee). It's kind of a big deal, and is a favorite scene of mine.
"But Andrew, why are you writing about hiking? This is a pop culture blog, not a hiking blog. Don't you have a blog for hiking?"
Yes, I do. It's called Walk With Nature, and its pretty good**. However, if you will stop interrupting me, I'll get to the damn point.
Anyways, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a tale of a bunch of characters traveling through valleys, meadows, and mountains to reach the Lonely Mountain. Along the way, they go to Rivendell and climb up the Misty Mountains. They do spend some time on ponies, but eventually they travel by foot. As mentioned by Bilbo, they are definitely on an adventure.
In other words, of course I love this film. If it would have been just three hours of Gandalf, Bilbo, and the twelve dwarves hiking and camping I probably would have enjoyed it. The fact that it stars Martin Freeman in the role he was born to play, has a scene with the White Council***, and nails the Gollum and Bilbo riddle-off is just icing on the cake.
Sure, the movie drags in places. There are times during the dwarves arrival at Bag End where I wondered when they were going to get going. Were it about 15-20 minutes shorter, it would be a much tighter film. That doesn't mean I can find much to cut, just that it could benefit from some streamlining.
I've already seen the film twice, both times being the regular 2D showing. It sounds like the 48fps 3d is at best insignificant and at worst a disaster. If anybody who reads this has seen it in the other formats, please let us know how it was in the comments section.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is playing at theaters across the country. If you loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy, enjoy fantasy adventures, or just enjoy creative facial hair, I fully recommend this film.
Coming Soon: We'll be staying at home to catch up with some of the best films of the year that found their way to Netflix, plus a few classics I've never seen. Also, if luck turns my way, we'll be catching up on some other films in the theater.
*These things are related.
**When it's updated.
***For those uninitiated in the world of Middle Earth, that would be Elrond (Hugo Weaving), Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), Gandalf (Ian McKellen), and Saruman (Christopher Lee). It's kind of a big deal, and is a favorite scene of mine.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Dispatches from the Popcorn Stadium: Lincoln
I SUPPOSE THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW, ALTHOUGH MUCH OF THEM CAN BE FOUND IN HISTORY BOOKS
One hundred and fifty years after the Civil War, the Thirteenth Amendment is but a historical footnote, important in its prohibition of slavery, but really not applicable to our daily lives. It seems so inevitable and obvious of a law, that we take it for granted. However, the reality of it was much rockier and less of a sure thing. Its passage in the House of Representatives was a master stroke of deal making, persuasion, and in a few cases coercion. Lincoln does a great job of telling its story.
This is a very well acted film. Daniel Day-Lewis is great as always. I would imagine there is a great temptation to play Lincoln with a deep "Voice of Historical Importance", because it seems necessary to best convey his oratory. However, Day-Lewis goes a different (and more historically accurate) route, using a softer, high-pitched voice that sounds distinctly of the west. He tends to shuffle around awkwardly, conveying at times an almost comical appearance, while still maintaining an air of dignity and sadness.
Much of the rest of the cast is great as well, especially Tommy Lee Jones and James Spader. Playing the eccentric radical Republican Thaddeus Stevens, Jones captures his character, awful wig and all. He conveys his passion and urgency for the "radical" ideas of not just emancipation, but suffrage and racial equality for black Americans, while also showing his willingness to work with the more moderate and conservative elements of his party to get the amendment through.
Although Day-Lewis and Jones will get all of the awards buzz, James Spader probably walked away with the best performance in the film. There is no reason a historical film should be this funny, but thanks in large part to Spader's "sausage maker" W.N. Bilbo, there are many laugh out loud moments. He brought a lot of humanity and absurdity to a film that could have descended into stuffy reenactment. Other credit should go to David Strathairn as William Seward, Bruce McGill as stuffy old Edwin Stanton, and Michael Sthulbarg as conflicted Democrat George Yeaman.
As enjoyable as the movie is, it certainly has a few issues. Sally Field does well enough, but she seems to be there just to remind people how tragic her life was. Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a good job, but seems to be underused. Although it probably seemed obligatory to include Lincoln's death, that part seemed tacked on, especially since there was an excellent scene a few minutes before that would have been a great place to end it. Even if the theater fake-out was clever and heartbreaking in a very Spielbergian way.
Historical films are tough things to pull off. They usually benefit from being fairly small in scope, allowing for a stronger story*. Choosing to focus on the first four months of 1865 was a wise choice, as trying to cram the entirety of Lincoln's administration would have been too tricky to pull off. If other historical films were this good, perhaps they'd be much more prevalent.
Lincoln should still be playing in theaters nationwide. I heartily recommend you go see this.
*A good comparison of this idea is Gettysburg vs. Gods and Generals
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
When to Say Goodbye
Next year. The Office, 30 Rock, and Breaking Bad will all be wrapping up their runs. 30 Rock and Breaking Bad are going out before they get tired. The Office is leaving well after its creative peak, although this last season has gained back some of its spark. Meanwhile, shows like South Park and The Simpsons keep chugging along, the former still at times pretty strong, while the latter mostly settled into a comfortable rut of mediocrity.
One thing fans of shows like to mull over is the lifespan of a show. Not exactly meaning how long the show actually goes, but how long it should go. Some shows were cancelled too soon, as any Browncoat still in mourning will attest. Others lived on well past their "sell by" date.
While we fans of good TV lament those shows cancelled before their time, we tend to focus far more on the shows that go on too long. How many pages of words have been spent in forums and blog comments on the post golden age episodes of The Simpsons*, or seasons 4-7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or season 7 of Star Trek: The Next Generation with its iguana cats and ghost orgasms.
Very few shows get to go out while at or near the top. For every Seinfeld leaving at the height of its popularity, there are many other shows like Roseanne or Scrubs that became shells of their former selves. If the ratings, particularly those in the ever important 18-49 bracket, are still good, the network has no real reason to cancel it. Neither does the production studio, particularly after it hits the magic number for syndication. As long as the salaries of the cast don't outweigh the potential revenue, there really isn't an financial reason for a show to end. This is especially true on troubled networks such as NBC, where even moderate ratings are cause for celebration.
Of course, shows on premium and basic cable have somewhat different rules than the broadcast networks. Many of these shows have particularly powerful executive producers who have definitive ends in mind for their shows. Shows like The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and others end because that is when their creators wanted them to end. Ratings and cost still matter (see: Deadwood), but the economics is a bit different with 10 or 13 thirteen episodes instead of 22 or 26.
A rare but increasingly more common occurrence is a show that was cancelled to soon, brought back, and then becomes a show that lived on too long. The best example of this is Family Guy, which was cancelled initially by Fox, got great ratings for reruns on Adult Swim, and then was renewed by Fox. Its second run has dwarfed the first run in quantity, while oftentimes lacking in quality. Another example is Futurama, which came back with new episodes on Comedy Central after four (mostly) wonderful seasons on Fox, and four good but not great straight to DVD movies. We'll have to see if Arrested Development, resurrected by Netflix, will suffer the same diminishing returns.
Regardless of the timing, it is hard to see a show go. I'll be sad when The Simpsons, even if probably should have ended long ago. Likewise, I'll be sad when another favorite show (such as Parks and Recreation) leaves the air, whether too soon, too late, or exactly the right time. When that last episode ends, that's it. Never again will it be able to disappoint, or rise back up to its highest highs. Like life, saying goodbye to a TV show is always hard, if far, far less painful or difficult.
*The definition of The Simpsons "Golden Age" is subject to debate. Some consider it over after season 8, while others argue for seasons 9,10, and even occasionally 11. For what it's worth, I think the "Golden Age" started with "Radio Bart" in season 3, and ends with "Behind the Laughter", the season 11 finale. Sure, there are great episodes before ("Lisa's Substitute", "Krusty gets Busted") and after ("HOMR", "Trilogy of Error"). However, that wonderful, giddy balance between heart, satire, and absurdity is at its peak during those 8+ seasons where it's at its peak.
One thing fans of shows like to mull over is the lifespan of a show. Not exactly meaning how long the show actually goes, but how long it should go. Some shows were cancelled too soon, as any Browncoat still in mourning will attest. Others lived on well past their "sell by" date.
While we fans of good TV lament those shows cancelled before their time, we tend to focus far more on the shows that go on too long. How many pages of words have been spent in forums and blog comments on the post golden age episodes of The Simpsons*, or seasons 4-7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or season 7 of Star Trek: The Next Generation with its iguana cats and ghost orgasms.
Very few shows get to go out while at or near the top. For every Seinfeld leaving at the height of its popularity, there are many other shows like Roseanne or Scrubs that became shells of their former selves. If the ratings, particularly those in the ever important 18-49 bracket, are still good, the network has no real reason to cancel it. Neither does the production studio, particularly after it hits the magic number for syndication. As long as the salaries of the cast don't outweigh the potential revenue, there really isn't an financial reason for a show to end. This is especially true on troubled networks such as NBC, where even moderate ratings are cause for celebration.
Of course, shows on premium and basic cable have somewhat different rules than the broadcast networks. Many of these shows have particularly powerful executive producers who have definitive ends in mind for their shows. Shows like The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and others end because that is when their creators wanted them to end. Ratings and cost still matter (see: Deadwood), but the economics is a bit different with 10 or 13 thirteen episodes instead of 22 or 26.
A rare but increasingly more common occurrence is a show that was cancelled to soon, brought back, and then becomes a show that lived on too long. The best example of this is Family Guy, which was cancelled initially by Fox, got great ratings for reruns on Adult Swim, and then was renewed by Fox. Its second run has dwarfed the first run in quantity, while oftentimes lacking in quality. Another example is Futurama, which came back with new episodes on Comedy Central after four (mostly) wonderful seasons on Fox, and four good but not great straight to DVD movies. We'll have to see if Arrested Development, resurrected by Netflix, will suffer the same diminishing returns.
Regardless of the timing, it is hard to see a show go. I'll be sad when The Simpsons, even if probably should have ended long ago. Likewise, I'll be sad when another favorite show (such as Parks and Recreation) leaves the air, whether too soon, too late, or exactly the right time. When that last episode ends, that's it. Never again will it be able to disappoint, or rise back up to its highest highs. Like life, saying goodbye to a TV show is always hard, if far, far less painful or difficult.
*The definition of The Simpsons "Golden Age" is subject to debate. Some consider it over after season 8, while others argue for seasons 9,10, and even occasionally 11. For what it's worth, I think the "Golden Age" started with "Radio Bart" in season 3, and ends with "Behind the Laughter", the season 11 finale. Sure, there are great episodes before ("Lisa's Substitute", "Krusty gets Busted") and after ("HOMR", "Trilogy of Error"). However, that wonderful, giddy balance between heart, satire, and absurdity is at its peak during those 8+ seasons where it's at its peak.
A.V. Club Posts Best Films of 2012 List
The A.V. Club has posted their Best Films of 2012 list. Considering all of the movie posts I've made on this blog, it's no surprise this is one of my favorite things to read every December. I've only seen three of the movies on their compiled list, although a couple (like Django Unchained and Zero Dark Thirty) have yet to be released, at least anywhere I'd go to see movies. I'm surprised and a bit disappointed The Avengers, Cloud Atlas, and Wreck-It Ralph didn't get more support, but there were a lot of films competing for the top of the lists. This seemed like it was a pretty good year for films.
As for my "favorites of 2012" list, you'll have to wait a bit for that. I can't say yet when it will be out, just that it will be out sometime between Christmas and New Year's Day.
As for my "favorites of 2012" list, you'll have to wait a bit for that. I can't say yet when it will be out, just that it will be out sometime between Christmas and New Year's Day.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
I love the Whedonverse, Part 12
Why I Love the Whedonverse #12: Spike
Ah yes, Spike. Strange that he was originally going to be a one off villain, considering how important he later came to be. Frankly, I could write an entire post (or more) about Spike, but this isn't the time or place. Suffice it to say that the Whedonverse wouldn't be the same without him.
As a side note, I really like the fact that his and Angel's argument over who would win between cavemen and astronauts comes from "A Hole in the World". It's a rare funny part of a rather somber episode. It's hilariously stupid, yet so accurate as to how we all get in silly arguments like that. Besides, everybody knows that astronauts would win.
EDIT: The episode title is not "A Hole in the Ground". Last time I checked there weren't any hobbits in the episode, as Jonathan wasn't in it. Thanks to Erin for bringing that to my attention.
Ah yes, Spike. Strange that he was originally going to be a one off villain, considering how important he later came to be. Frankly, I could write an entire post (or more) about Spike, but this isn't the time or place. Suffice it to say that the Whedonverse wouldn't be the same without him.
As a side note, I really like the fact that his and Angel's argument over who would win between cavemen and astronauts comes from "A Hole in the World". It's a rare funny part of a rather somber episode. It's hilariously stupid, yet so accurate as to how we all get in silly arguments like that. Besides, everybody knows that astronauts would win.
EDIT: The episode title is not "A Hole in the Ground". Last time I checked there weren't any hobbits in the episode, as Jonathan wasn't in it. Thanks to Erin for bringing that to my attention.
Dispatches from the Popcorn Stadium: Skyfall
THE USUAL SPOILER WARNING APPLIES.
I've never been a big fan of the James Bond films. It isn't that I don't like them, or don't appreciate its place the big stew that is pop-culture, I just have never sought them out to watch. For a long time the only one I could verify having seen in its entirety was You Only Live Twice, and I enjoyed most of it. Goldeneye 64 was a fun game, and I (regretfully) watched Die Another Day in the theater. I took note when they changed tack with Casino Royale, but not enough to see it when it was in the theater.
With that in mind, it might not mean much when I say Skyfall was the best Bond film I have ever seen. It had all the swagger of the old-school Bond films, while still maintaining a serious and thoughtful edge. Daniel Craig does a great job playing an aging, damaged Bond who is in need of a nice long vacation. If only Javier Bardem's rogue MI6 agent would have let him be.
Bardem's performance was a real highlight of the film. Like the best Bond villains he was menacing and dangerous, but also extremely fun to watch. Somehow he walked a fine line, being both scary and hilarious.
I thought Sam Mendes and the cinematographer Roger Deakins did a very good job with how the film was shot. The casino in Macau, from Bond's entrance by water to the fight in the den of the "dragons", was really fun. And scenes set in the Scottish highlands are always welcome.
The film wasn't perfect, but then none are. The showdown at the end, while mostly fantastic, ended very quickly and was very anti-climactic. The escape from the holding cell, while the start of a great scene, just seemed a bit too unbelievable. Of course, this may just be that was yet another recent film where the bad guy intentionally gets caught to wreak havoc on the good guys. Still, couldn't that problem have been solved by a non-computer controlled lock?
Minor quibbles aside, this was a fun ride. If you have yet to see it, I recommend going out and finding it at your local theater or multiplex. Given how much money the movie has made, I'm guessing a lot of you have already taken that advice. As for me, I can't wait for the next one, when Bond battles Hank Scorpio and his evil comprehensive employee benefits program.
Coming Next: We see how the delicious sausage of the 13th Amendment is made in Lincoln, and then eat it for elevensies while watching The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
I've never been a big fan of the James Bond films. It isn't that I don't like them, or don't appreciate its place the big stew that is pop-culture, I just have never sought them out to watch. For a long time the only one I could verify having seen in its entirety was You Only Live Twice, and I enjoyed most of it. Goldeneye 64 was a fun game, and I (regretfully) watched Die Another Day in the theater. I took note when they changed tack with Casino Royale, but not enough to see it when it was in the theater.
With that in mind, it might not mean much when I say Skyfall was the best Bond film I have ever seen. It had all the swagger of the old-school Bond films, while still maintaining a serious and thoughtful edge. Daniel Craig does a great job playing an aging, damaged Bond who is in need of a nice long vacation. If only Javier Bardem's rogue MI6 agent would have let him be.
Bardem's performance was a real highlight of the film. Like the best Bond villains he was menacing and dangerous, but also extremely fun to watch. Somehow he walked a fine line, being both scary and hilarious.
I thought Sam Mendes and the cinematographer Roger Deakins did a very good job with how the film was shot. The casino in Macau, from Bond's entrance by water to the fight in the den of the "dragons", was really fun. And scenes set in the Scottish highlands are always welcome.
The film wasn't perfect, but then none are. The showdown at the end, while mostly fantastic, ended very quickly and was very anti-climactic. The escape from the holding cell, while the start of a great scene, just seemed a bit too unbelievable. Of course, this may just be that was yet another recent film where the bad guy intentionally gets caught to wreak havoc on the good guys. Still, couldn't that problem have been solved by a non-computer controlled lock?
Minor quibbles aside, this was a fun ride. If you have yet to see it, I recommend going out and finding it at your local theater or multiplex. Given how much money the movie has made, I'm guessing a lot of you have already taken that advice. As for me, I can't wait for the next one, when Bond battles Hank Scorpio and his evil comprehensive employee benefits program.
Coming Next: We see how the delicious sausage of the 13th Amendment is made in Lincoln, and then eat it for elevensies while watching The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Monday, December 17, 2012
I Love the Whedonverse, Parts 10 and 11
Because it is the end of the weekend, you get two "I Love the Whedonverse" posts from Erin in one crosspost!
I Love the Whedonverse #10: Freeze Ray
When I first watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog, I wasn't sure how much I would like it. I have to admit that the opening of it was a bit awkward, and I wasn't sure if it would be worth it. By the time "Freeze Ray" was over with it, I was hooked. I can't help but smile every time I hear it, and the way it sets up the story is so great. It's not my favorite ("A Man's Gotta Do" or "My Eyes" take that title), but it is certainly memorable.
I Love the Whedonverse #11: Hush
Hush holds a special place in my heart, as it was one of the first episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer I ever saw*. Sure, I wasn't completely familiar with the series at the time, but I could tell this was a great episode of TV. When I watched it years later during my marathon through the series, that feeling was confirmed. It was a cleverly written episode, considering how a giant section of it had no dialogue. Contrary to how it would seem, an episode without dialogue could not be easy to write, yet he found a way. The meeting mentioned in Erin's post was a highlight, and is one of my favorite scenes from the show.
*The others I remember watching years ago were "Once More With Feeling" and "Bargaining".
I Love the Whedonverse #10: Freeze Ray
When I first watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog, I wasn't sure how much I would like it. I have to admit that the opening of it was a bit awkward, and I wasn't sure if it would be worth it. By the time "Freeze Ray" was over with it, I was hooked. I can't help but smile every time I hear it, and the way it sets up the story is so great. It's not my favorite ("A Man's Gotta Do" or "My Eyes" take that title), but it is certainly memorable.
I Love the Whedonverse #11: Hush
Hush holds a special place in my heart, as it was one of the first episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer I ever saw*. Sure, I wasn't completely familiar with the series at the time, but I could tell this was a great episode of TV. When I watched it years later during my marathon through the series, that feeling was confirmed. It was a cleverly written episode, considering how a giant section of it had no dialogue. Contrary to how it would seem, an episode without dialogue could not be easy to write, yet he found a way. The meeting mentioned in Erin's post was a highlight, and is one of my favorite scenes from the show.
*The others I remember watching years ago were "Once More With Feeling" and "Bargaining".
Friday, December 14, 2012
The Hobbit: A (Somewhat) Expected Movie
So here you go, 12 hours later from my Midnight viewing of the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. I may add more or edit more as the day goes on as I collect my thoughts a bit more. I had so much I wanted to talk about last night after the movie but I was soooo tired when I finally crawled into bed at 4:45.
WARNING: SPOILERS! ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK.
When you sign up to see a Peter Jackson Tolkien film, you should already expect epic scenery shots, walking single file, and Gandalf talking to moths. It's just a fact, and it's really not a deterrent IMO. New Zealand has some amazing scenery and it deserves to be shown off as much as possible.
That being said, I was really quite pleased with the film in ways I didn't expect. I had read reviews that the pacing absolutely killed the film - however, many of the reviews also cited the film's lighter tone as being amiss from the more serious storylines and feel of the Trilogy. This leads me to believe that these critics have not read the book and therefore should be mocked.
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is, at its very core, a book for children of all ages. The story centers around Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit with an inherent desire for adventure (thanks to his Tookish tendencies), and his adventures with a troupe of dwarves heading East to reclaim their kingdom under Lonely Mountain (also known as Erebor). Although he has no experience as a burglar, he proves to be clever and quiet enough to earn his place among the Dwarves, led by the ever-serious Thorin Oakenshield (he's seen some stuff, man.). It's an epic fairytale, at times cheery and sing-songy, and other times dark and solemn. Much of the story involves Bilbo's personal growth as he experiences, accepts, and desires adventures in the world beyond the Shire.
The first time I read the Hobbit, I was in 5th grade. I re-read it in 7th grade (along with my English class), and I grew up with the Rankin Bass cartoon (The greatest adventure is what lies ahead, after all). I really ought to have re-read it completely before I went to see the movie but I've been busy, you guys, lay off me, but I DID bone up on some of my favorite parts when I found my mother's old copy of the book the other night.
Okay, now to get to the nitty-gritty. The film opens with a flashback to Dale, a thriving town at the base of Lonely Mountain populated by humans. I remember Dale was known as the place to go for toys, and the city thrived because of the immense wealth of the Dwarves - even the least skillfull of the smiths had wealth beyond measure. Needless to say, it was a pretty bitching time. And then Smaug came. And the Dwarves fled. I understood the changes made here; in the story, Thorin was out in the woods gallavantin' around and thus he was spared from Smaug's destruction. In the movie, he was at the forefront of the defense. This gives him a more polished vendetta against Smaug - he's seen the destruction up close.
Of course, all of this information wasn't disclosed until Thorin retells the story to Bilbo at Bag End in the book. I actually believed this change in narrative was almost necessary - as it was, the dinner party scenes were starting to drag on. Aside from this shift, the movie then continues to the Shire, we see some familiar faces on a familiar day, and Bilbo starts recounting his adventures 60 years prior. From here, the film actually follows the book to a T - dialogue is directly from the pages of Tolkien's work and everything is just as described. The Dwarves arrive, are introduced, sing, and get the formalities of burglar hiring (and eating) out of the way.
There are some minor changes with narrative following - the beloved Mountain Troll scene, for instance, is under a different set of circumstances. Because much of the Hobbit relies on an omni-present narration, it's hard to visually convey what the character's thought process is (without resorting to internal monologue) and so the scene needs to be more action-oriented. It was different, but enjoyable none-the-less. But hey, the map they use is the one Tolkien drew up himself (I know, because it's the same one in my copy from the 70s). Peter Jackson needs to be given credit - he's not always spot-on, but dammit, he's not Lucasing up Middle-Earth either.
I felt that the only major killer for the movie was, and the stupid meanieface critics were right, the pacing. It dragged at some points and sped through battles in others. Giving Radagast screen time was amazing, though, and I actually felt like I could forgive Jackson a little bit for Tom Bombadil because of it. If you can get past the pacing issues then you will not be disappointed with the visuals, the musics, and the plot.
Familiar shots are re-tread, musical themes are replayed, and Martin Freeman, I'm fairly certain, mimicked Ian Holmes' "ring finding" flashback from Fellowship down to the smallest muscle twitch. It was old, but very well loved, territory for fans of the Trilogy. In a few years when the Hobbit trilogy is done, all of it will seem less like call back and more like giddy foreshadowing for what comes in the Trilogy. My favorite revisit was probably all of Rivendell. I just love Rivendell, you guys. Liek woah. (And yes, Laura, not all of the White Council was represented, but at least it was brought up).
Speaking of acting, the actors went above and beyond to accomodate for the kind of feel needed for a movie adaptation of a book like the Hobbit; Characters weren't afraid of being "silly" in moments that would have warranted a more serious reaction in the Trilogy. Again, this is a child-friendly story, which accounts for all those times Pessimistic Nerdlingers decry "surely a Dwarve or Two would be dead by now!". If you feel to yourself "this is silly. This is too whimsical for my tastes", please remember it is not the Lord of the Rings. (For instance, keep in mind that the Stone Giants are beating each other up for game.) One major thing missing? The Goblins taunting and singing about treeing the Dwarves in the pine trees....but I could see how that's a stretch.
Gollum and Bilbo's scene, Riddles in the Dark, was enjoyable and spot-on. That is all. Also, Jackson was correct; Martin Freeman was born to play Bilbo Baggins.
Overall, I really enjoyed the entire movie experience. I felt the movie was as faithful an adaptation that one could expect, and I look forward to the next installment. Fans of the book, I believe, will be pleased with the film - movie-goers not familiar may be confused with some plot points (what's the deal with the Necromancer, anyhow? Did they just kinda forget about him? Well...) but, again, if one can get past pacing then the movie should make for a great afternoon or evening.
EDIT: Thoughts After Second Viewing
Lolololol, Fili and Kili have fangirls on the internet...they're going to be so disappointed by the time the Trilogy ends...
Gloin is totally spot-on as the father of Gimli. Red hair, love for food, and everything!
Bofur is just full of dead-pan lulz. And his hat!
One of the goblins that falls to his inevitable death in Goblintown totally Wilhelm screams. It's kinda funny.
I realized that Jackson included an over-arching story that wasn't in the Hobbit, like, at all. In the book, the messes they get in (and inevitably out of) just kind of happen and move the plot along.In the movie, however, great pains are made to establish that this band of Dwarves are wanting to not just reclaim their gold but their home. They are a ragtag band of outcasts, few with any true skill in battle. Gandalf comes and saves them from many a pickle, but there's some visible changes; from their failed "battle" with the Trolls to the fight through Goblintown, you see them working together, as a team, as Dwarves, coming into their own as warriors. They're finding themselves, and they don't wait on Gandalf (well...a couple of them do...) to take action when their King has been, at least momentarily, felled. Taking back Lonely Mountain has a new meaning in the movie as not just righting a wrong, or saving their cultural history, but actually taking back the Dwarven way of life itself and restoring its glory.
WARNING: SPOILERS! ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK.
When you sign up to see a Peter Jackson Tolkien film, you should already expect epic scenery shots, walking single file, and Gandalf talking to moths. It's just a fact, and it's really not a deterrent IMO. New Zealand has some amazing scenery and it deserves to be shown off as much as possible.
That being said, I was really quite pleased with the film in ways I didn't expect. I had read reviews that the pacing absolutely killed the film - however, many of the reviews also cited the film's lighter tone as being amiss from the more serious storylines and feel of the Trilogy. This leads me to believe that these critics have not read the book and therefore should be mocked.
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is, at its very core, a book for children of all ages. The story centers around Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit with an inherent desire for adventure (thanks to his Tookish tendencies), and his adventures with a troupe of dwarves heading East to reclaim their kingdom under Lonely Mountain (also known as Erebor). Although he has no experience as a burglar, he proves to be clever and quiet enough to earn his place among the Dwarves, led by the ever-serious Thorin Oakenshield (he's seen some stuff, man.). It's an epic fairytale, at times cheery and sing-songy, and other times dark and solemn. Much of the story involves Bilbo's personal growth as he experiences, accepts, and desires adventures in the world beyond the Shire.
The first time I read the Hobbit, I was in 5th grade. I re-read it in 7th grade (along with my English class), and I grew up with the Rankin Bass cartoon (The greatest adventure is what lies ahead, after all). I really ought to have re-read it completely before I went to see the movie but I've been busy, you guys, lay off me, but I DID bone up on some of my favorite parts when I found my mother's old copy of the book the other night.
Okay, now to get to the nitty-gritty. The film opens with a flashback to Dale, a thriving town at the base of Lonely Mountain populated by humans. I remember Dale was known as the place to go for toys, and the city thrived because of the immense wealth of the Dwarves - even the least skillfull of the smiths had wealth beyond measure. Needless to say, it was a pretty bitching time. And then Smaug came. And the Dwarves fled. I understood the changes made here; in the story, Thorin was out in the woods gallavantin' around and thus he was spared from Smaug's destruction. In the movie, he was at the forefront of the defense. This gives him a more polished vendetta against Smaug - he's seen the destruction up close.
Of course, all of this information wasn't disclosed until Thorin retells the story to Bilbo at Bag End in the book. I actually believed this change in narrative was almost necessary - as it was, the dinner party scenes were starting to drag on. Aside from this shift, the movie then continues to the Shire, we see some familiar faces on a familiar day, and Bilbo starts recounting his adventures 60 years prior. From here, the film actually follows the book to a T - dialogue is directly from the pages of Tolkien's work and everything is just as described. The Dwarves arrive, are introduced, sing, and get the formalities of burglar hiring (and eating) out of the way.
There are some minor changes with narrative following - the beloved Mountain Troll scene, for instance, is under a different set of circumstances. Because much of the Hobbit relies on an omni-present narration, it's hard to visually convey what the character's thought process is (without resorting to internal monologue) and so the scene needs to be more action-oriented. It was different, but enjoyable none-the-less. But hey, the map they use is the one Tolkien drew up himself (I know, because it's the same one in my copy from the 70s). Peter Jackson needs to be given credit - he's not always spot-on, but dammit, he's not Lucasing up Middle-Earth either.
I felt that the only major killer for the movie was, and the stupid meanieface critics were right, the pacing. It dragged at some points and sped through battles in others. Giving Radagast screen time was amazing, though, and I actually felt like I could forgive Jackson a little bit for Tom Bombadil because of it. If you can get past the pacing issues then you will not be disappointed with the visuals, the musics, and the plot.
Familiar shots are re-tread, musical themes are replayed, and Martin Freeman, I'm fairly certain, mimicked Ian Holmes' "ring finding" flashback from Fellowship down to the smallest muscle twitch. It was old, but very well loved, territory for fans of the Trilogy. In a few years when the Hobbit trilogy is done, all of it will seem less like call back and more like giddy foreshadowing for what comes in the Trilogy. My favorite revisit was probably all of Rivendell. I just love Rivendell, you guys. Liek woah. (And yes, Laura, not all of the White Council was represented, but at least it was brought up).
Speaking of acting, the actors went above and beyond to accomodate for the kind of feel needed for a movie adaptation of a book like the Hobbit; Characters weren't afraid of being "silly" in moments that would have warranted a more serious reaction in the Trilogy. Again, this is a child-friendly story, which accounts for all those times Pessimistic Nerdlingers decry "surely a Dwarve or Two would be dead by now!". If you feel to yourself "this is silly. This is too whimsical for my tastes", please remember it is not the Lord of the Rings. (For instance, keep in mind that the Stone Giants are beating each other up for game.) One major thing missing? The Goblins taunting and singing about treeing the Dwarves in the pine trees....but I could see how that's a stretch.
Gollum and Bilbo's scene, Riddles in the Dark, was enjoyable and spot-on. That is all. Also, Jackson was correct; Martin Freeman was born to play Bilbo Baggins.
Overall, I really enjoyed the entire movie experience. I felt the movie was as faithful an adaptation that one could expect, and I look forward to the next installment. Fans of the book, I believe, will be pleased with the film - movie-goers not familiar may be confused with some plot points (what's the deal with the Necromancer, anyhow? Did they just kinda forget about him? Well...) but, again, if one can get past pacing then the movie should make for a great afternoon or evening.
EDIT: Thoughts After Second Viewing
Lolololol, Fili and Kili have fangirls on the internet...they're going to be so disappointed by the time the Trilogy ends...
Gloin is totally spot-on as the father of Gimli. Red hair, love for food, and everything!
Bofur is just full of dead-pan lulz. And his hat!
One of the goblins that falls to his inevitable death in Goblintown totally Wilhelm screams. It's kinda funny.
I realized that Jackson included an over-arching story that wasn't in the Hobbit, like, at all. In the book, the messes they get in (and inevitably out of) just kind of happen and move the plot along.In the movie, however, great pains are made to establish that this band of Dwarves are wanting to not just reclaim their gold but their home. They are a ragtag band of outcasts, few with any true skill in battle. Gandalf comes and saves them from many a pickle, but there's some visible changes; from their failed "battle" with the Trolls to the fight through Goblintown, you see them working together, as a team, as Dwarves, coming into their own as warriors. They're finding themselves, and they don't wait on Gandalf (well...a couple of them do...) to take action when their King has been, at least momentarily, felled. Taking back Lonely Mountain has a new meaning in the movie as not just righting a wrong, or saving their cultural history, but actually taking back the Dwarven way of life itself and restoring its glory.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Why Erin Loves the Whedonverse: Part 9 of 31
Why I Love the Whedonverse #9: Jayne Cobb's Cunning Hat
Many of my favorite moments or scenes in my favorite shows are not the big, epic ones. Instead, they are the little ones, such as Jayne getting his hat. They may not move the plot forward, but they reveal so much about the character, and oftentimes are the best way to discern the theme or mission of a given show. By giving a morally ambiguous hard-ass like Jayne a dopey hat lovingly crafted by his ma, it humanizes him in a way that pages of dialogue couldn't. Whedon and his gang were very adept at giving their characters these great moments. It worked in Buffy, it worked in Firefly, and it worked in The Avengers.
Many of my favorite moments or scenes in my favorite shows are not the big, epic ones. Instead, they are the little ones, such as Jayne getting his hat. They may not move the plot forward, but they reveal so much about the character, and oftentimes are the best way to discern the theme or mission of a given show. By giving a morally ambiguous hard-ass like Jayne a dopey hat lovingly crafted by his ma, it humanizes him in a way that pages of dialogue couldn't. Whedon and his gang were very adept at giving their characters these great moments. It worked in Buffy, it worked in Firefly, and it worked in The Avengers.
Dispatches from the Popcorn Stadium: Flight
BEWARE, SPOILERS ARE BELOW
There's a point in Flight where through a complete and total series of unfortunate events Denzel Washington's character is completely drunk, right before his big hearing before the FAA. It looks like all hope is lost, that he will not be able to clear his name because he is far too wasted. However, he gets Don Cheadle and Bruce Greenwood to call his buddy John Goodman to bring the miracle drugs that will help level him out. My first reaction was "Oh shit, they're going to pull this off." My second was "Damn, this is kind of a crazy scene." Finally, it became "Wait a sec, should I really be rooting for this guy to succeed?"
If you told me six months ago that this would be the result of a movie starring Denzel Washington and directed by Robert Zemeckis, I would have been skeptical. After all, hadn't Zemeckis moved on to directing films placed firmly in Uncanny Valley? I'm guessing more than a few patrons of the film were expecting something more akin to Remember the Titans or Unstoppable with a plane. Instead they got a sometimes grim portrayal of an alcoholic about to hit bottom as he was being hailed as a (mostly justified) hero for saving most of his passengers with a crash landing.
Sure, most of the points are the ones usually hit in stories about addicts. The occasional efforts towards sobriety, followed by the inevitable relapse. The awful and awkward encounter with the ex-wife and son full of contempt. The requisite scenes of waking up surrounded by beer cans and liquor bottles. As cliche as those scenes may be, it doesn't really matter because of Washington's performance. It's painful to watch, and that is kind of the point.
In the end, he has to make the choice to admit his addiction and face the consequences (jail for being drunk and negligent on the job) or save his butt (but not his soul) by pinning it on his girlfriend, a flight attendant killed in the crash. I found this part to be pretty tense, as his drug fueled rejuvenation put it into doubt if he would make the right choice. When he finally fesses up, the scene could have ended up pretty damn terrible, with all of the shocked reactions from the crowd. However, it works because the FAA inspector is the wonderful Melissa Leo, who takes no joy in his public shaming from his admission.
This is my favorite Zemeckis movie since Back to the Future. If it is still playing in a theater near you, I suggest you check it out. That is, assuming you aren't stuck somewhere in Middle Earth.
Coming next: Skyfall, Lincoln, and yes, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
There's a point in Flight where through a complete and total series of unfortunate events Denzel Washington's character is completely drunk, right before his big hearing before the FAA. It looks like all hope is lost, that he will not be able to clear his name because he is far too wasted. However, he gets Don Cheadle and Bruce Greenwood to call his buddy John Goodman to bring the miracle drugs that will help level him out. My first reaction was "Oh shit, they're going to pull this off." My second was "Damn, this is kind of a crazy scene." Finally, it became "Wait a sec, should I really be rooting for this guy to succeed?"
If you told me six months ago that this would be the result of a movie starring Denzel Washington and directed by Robert Zemeckis, I would have been skeptical. After all, hadn't Zemeckis moved on to directing films placed firmly in Uncanny Valley? I'm guessing more than a few patrons of the film were expecting something more akin to Remember the Titans or Unstoppable with a plane. Instead they got a sometimes grim portrayal of an alcoholic about to hit bottom as he was being hailed as a (mostly justified) hero for saving most of his passengers with a crash landing.
Sure, most of the points are the ones usually hit in stories about addicts. The occasional efforts towards sobriety, followed by the inevitable relapse. The awful and awkward encounter with the ex-wife and son full of contempt. The requisite scenes of waking up surrounded by beer cans and liquor bottles. As cliche as those scenes may be, it doesn't really matter because of Washington's performance. It's painful to watch, and that is kind of the point.
In the end, he has to make the choice to admit his addiction and face the consequences (jail for being drunk and negligent on the job) or save his butt (but not his soul) by pinning it on his girlfriend, a flight attendant killed in the crash. I found this part to be pretty tense, as his drug fueled rejuvenation put it into doubt if he would make the right choice. When he finally fesses up, the scene could have ended up pretty damn terrible, with all of the shocked reactions from the crowd. However, it works because the FAA inspector is the wonderful Melissa Leo, who takes no joy in his public shaming from his admission.
This is my favorite Zemeckis movie since Back to the Future. If it is still playing in a theater near you, I suggest you check it out. That is, assuming you aren't stuck somewhere in Middle Earth.
Coming next: Skyfall, Lincoln, and yes, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Why Erin Loves the Whedonverse, part 8 of 31
Starting today, we will be cross-posting Erin's excellent series of Tumblr posts about why she loves the Whedonverse on this blog. Currently she is on #8, so go back through her Tumblr and check out the first seven. All of them have been pretty great, but this one is probably the best, so it's a great introduction to her series.
In addition to giving you the link, I'll also be adding some short thoughts of my own.
Why I Love the Whedonverse #8: Doyle's Commercial
When I started marathoning Angel on Netflix after I finished season three of Buffy, I was fairly underwhelmed. The show was competent, but kind of boring. It probably didn't help that it was following one of my favorite TV seasons ever, but I was having trouble continuing with it. I struggled through those first eight episodes, wondering if the other 102 episodes would take as long to get through. Then I fired up "Hero", and the rest is history.
I'll admit that part of the reason I like the episode is that it cleared the way for the return of Wesley, whose arc is probably my favorite non-musical thing from the Whedonverse. But that is the minor part, as "Hero" is the first great episode of the show. And of course, Doyle's commercial is a big part of that.
In addition to giving you the link, I'll also be adding some short thoughts of my own.
Why I Love the Whedonverse #8: Doyle's Commercial
When I started marathoning Angel on Netflix after I finished season three of Buffy, I was fairly underwhelmed. The show was competent, but kind of boring. It probably didn't help that it was following one of my favorite TV seasons ever, but I was having trouble continuing with it. I struggled through those first eight episodes, wondering if the other 102 episodes would take as long to get through. Then I fired up "Hero", and the rest is history.
I'll admit that part of the reason I like the episode is that it cleared the way for the return of Wesley, whose arc is probably my favorite non-musical thing from the Whedonverse. But that is the minor part, as "Hero" is the first great episode of the show. And of course, Doyle's commercial is a big part of that.
There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow: A New Era for this Blog
July 20, 1969: Man lands on the Moon
November 19, 1969: Man lands on the moon, again.
For decades nothing worth mentioning happens...
December 12, 2012: Quo Vadimus relaunches as Doctor Strangeblog.
Sure, we may only have nine days left until we all check out of here, but we here at Doctor Strangeblog will make it one hell of a last nine days.
So what is different about this blog? Well, for one, there will actually be content put on here. Stuff like movie reviews, ruminations about our favorite TV shows, and perhaps even an occasional post about video games and music. Andrew can't promise that he'll keep sports out of it, so there might be some of that as well. Particularly if the Bears continue their second straight year of December collapses. Should that be on it's own blog? Most likely. Maybe.
So please stick around and Andrew and Erin start serving up delicious mind burgers about our wonderful world of pop-culture, at least until we get real jobs or stop giving a crap. First up we'll be adding some cross-posting action for Erin, as she continues her "31 days of Why I Love the Whedonverse", Andrew finally will add those movie reviews he promised, and hmm....I think there is a movie coming out this Friday that may be of some interest, what do you think? We're out for now, except for a quick announcement from Andrew regarding his other blogs and crap. So without further adieu, take it away, Andrew!
Now that the tedious bullcrap "WHIMMIWAZZLE OH YEAH WHOO-HOO WE ARE SO DAMN AWESOME AND NEW GIVE US ALL THE HITS" reboot post is done, I'd like to share some hard truths about the future of some of my other terribly maintained blogs. For the time being I am focusing on three blogs with the intention of having regular content. This one, White Blazes, Red Faces, and Source Code Daily. If a blog isn't in that list, it means I won't be updating it on a regular basis (in other words, things will be the same as usual for these blogs). So if you don't like reading about movies, TV, hiking, or programming, I'm afraid I don't have much for you to read.
In addition to these blogs, I also have a tumblr blog and a twitter account. If it's fairly ephemeral, fits in 140 characters, or is just a reblog of another collection of animated gifs of Inspector Spacetime/Rescue Ranger mashups, you can find it in these places. Also, visit Erin on tumblr and Twitter. Where do you think I get that crap to reblog?
Excelsior!
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Dispatches from the Popcorn Stadium: Wreck-It Ralph and Paperman
It's that time again, as the holiday movie season ramps up for this year. From now until February (when some of the more "arty" films will show up in this area), I'll be sharing some of my thoughts on the movies I've watched. I'll start with one of my favorites of the year.
I was going to write a long glowing review of Wreck-It Ralph, one of my favorite films of the year. Instead, I'd like to point you to my sister's great post about the film. I'll just add a few of my own comments here, then get to talking about the magnificent short Paperman.
One of my favorite parts of the film were how the characters interacted and related to each other. Not just how Ralph, Felix, Vanellope, and Sgt. Calhoun interacted, but also how they interacted with minor characters. A favorite example is the relationship between Ralph and Gene, who is the mayor of Niceland. Although the rest of the Nicelanders clearly don't like Ralph, the relationship between these two is even more strained, which hints at a history. I think (although I'm not certain) that Gene is the guy Ralph throws at the beginning of the level, which would clearly create additional animosity between the two. The fact that this much work is done of such a minor relationship in the game shows how much work went into making this a great film.
Another thing I liked was how they didn't pull punches in the film. Need a heartbreaking betrayal of Vanellope by Ralph? Consider it done, in disturbing fashion. Put both Vanellope and Ralph in jeopardy of dieing? Consider them imperiled. Kill the villian in a way both creative and kind of disturbing? Consider him fried. I'm a bring proponent of the idea that the great movies that children can watch should be a little scary, perhaps even a little disturbing. After all, aren't there scary parts in the Wizard of Oz or Pinocchio?
Between the characters, the acting, the animation, the loving irreverent reverence towards video games, and even the well-done music, Wreck-It Ralph is a real triumph for Walt Disney Animation. But frankly, even if the movie had been mediocre the trip to the theater would have been wasted, because Paperman was an absolute gem of a short.
From it's first frame I was in love with Paperman. Its deft combination of traditional and computer animation was well-done, and I'm a sucker for that (mostly) black & white style. Although I'm a big fan of the written word, I also love it when such a rich story can be told with actions and images, and nary a word is spoken. From the fact that all the workers in the one office save for our protagonist look alike, to one of the paper airplanes pulling a Randy Johnson on a bird flying by, to the love interest's red lipstick adding color to the scenes, it was a true joy.
If you have seen these films, please feel free to comment below. If not, go as soon as you can to your nearest theater. I didn't see the 3D version, watching the regular version both times I've seen it. Unlike most films, I could see 3D working well for Wreck-It Ralph.
Coming Soon: Skyfall, Flight, and Lincoln
I was going to write a long glowing review of Wreck-It Ralph, one of my favorite films of the year. Instead, I'd like to point you to my sister's great post about the film. I'll just add a few of my own comments here, then get to talking about the magnificent short Paperman.
One of my favorite parts of the film were how the characters interacted and related to each other. Not just how Ralph, Felix, Vanellope, and Sgt. Calhoun interacted, but also how they interacted with minor characters. A favorite example is the relationship between Ralph and Gene, who is the mayor of Niceland. Although the rest of the Nicelanders clearly don't like Ralph, the relationship between these two is even more strained, which hints at a history. I think (although I'm not certain) that Gene is the guy Ralph throws at the beginning of the level, which would clearly create additional animosity between the two. The fact that this much work is done of such a minor relationship in the game shows how much work went into making this a great film.
Another thing I liked was how they didn't pull punches in the film. Need a heartbreaking betrayal of Vanellope by Ralph? Consider it done, in disturbing fashion. Put both Vanellope and Ralph in jeopardy of dieing? Consider them imperiled. Kill the villian in a way both creative and kind of disturbing? Consider him fried. I'm a bring proponent of the idea that the great movies that children can watch should be a little scary, perhaps even a little disturbing. After all, aren't there scary parts in the Wizard of Oz or Pinocchio?
Between the characters, the acting, the animation, the loving irreverent reverence towards video games, and even the well-done music, Wreck-It Ralph is a real triumph for Walt Disney Animation. But frankly, even if the movie had been mediocre the trip to the theater would have been wasted, because Paperman was an absolute gem of a short.
From it's first frame I was in love with Paperman. Its deft combination of traditional and computer animation was well-done, and I'm a sucker for that (mostly) black & white style. Although I'm a big fan of the written word, I also love it when such a rich story can be told with actions and images, and nary a word is spoken. From the fact that all the workers in the one office save for our protagonist look alike, to one of the paper airplanes pulling a Randy Johnson on a bird flying by, to the love interest's red lipstick adding color to the scenes, it was a true joy.
If you have seen these films, please feel free to comment below. If not, go as soon as you can to your nearest theater. I didn't see the 3D version, watching the regular version both times I've seen it. Unlike most films, I could see 3D working well for Wreck-It Ralph.
Coming Soon: Skyfall, Flight, and Lincoln
Saturday, September 8, 2012
TV Week: Posted, from Ridge Farm, It's Saturday Morning!
Note: I'm aware that this was posted almost four hours after midnight on Saturday, and that I didn't get a TV Week post done on Friday. This one counts as the Friday post because a) I've yet to go to sleep, so it is still Friday night to me and b) I turned my imaginary clock back to before midnight, all Illinois General Assembly style. Besides, as this is about SNL, it seems appropriate I post on Saturday.
Ask anyone which years of SNL were there favorite and you are likely to get many different answers. If they were born before 1964, it almost assuredly will be the "classic" edition (1975-1980). If they were born after 1964, then it will almost assuredly be the years that fall between when they were 11 and 17. It doesn't matter if that six season blocks includes 1980-1981, 1985-1986, or 1994-1995*. You'll stick up for the years you watched in that age group. As such, I have a soft spot for both the Farley/Sandler/Spade/Schneider years, as well as the beginning of the Ferrell/Morgan/Shannon years. However, for people a few years older than me it would be Lovitz/Hartman/Carvey**, and a few years older than them it would be Murphy and Piscopo. I would guess those who just became legal drinkers fondly remember the Poehler and Myers, as kids just going into high school are sad that Forte, Samberg, and Wiig are no longer on the show.
Anyway, the point of this isn't to discuss which is the best, but to state that I've begun availing myself of the SNL episode runs on Netflix streaming. I actually had started several months ago, but only made it through the first season. After letting it sit in my queue for months, I decided to start back up, with the goal of going through every one up to the most recent in the list.
Unfortunately (of fortunately, depending on the season), only the first five are uncut. From season six on the episodes are edited and cut, most likely removing any sketches and musical acts that would create rights issues. Some episodes appear fairly intact, others are cut to the bone (I saw one latter day episode cut to 17 freaking minutes). On the plus side this will let me get through them quicker. On the minus side, however, I'll miss out on the complete experience, whether good or bad.
Don't worry, I won't be blogging every episode, because that would be far too much. But I might pop in here and there to write about it, particularly as I reach the end of the various cast runs. Expect opinions on whether the "Classic" episodes hold up***, the notorious troubled seasons, and much more.
So stay tuned, and remember in a different timeline I could be talking about thirty-eight seasons of Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell/Dan Dierdorf****
* The usual consensus for the three worst seasons, at least from the 20th century
** Truth be told, this is my favorite group, particularly 1987-1990. I caught the tail end of them, but enjoyed their reruns the most when they aired SNL sixteen hours a day on Comedy Central during college. However, my heart is still with those slightly later groups. My favorite season from that run is actually probably 1995-96, which had a few holdovers from the previous group (Spade, Macdonald, and Meadows) while introducing Ferrell, Darrell Hammond, and Cheri OTeri.
***One season and four episodes in it's been good, but not earth shattering. I didn't expect it to be, considering how what was totally brand new in 1975 is now the bedrock for most of my favorite comedy, and thus rather commonplace. The Muppets kind of suck, though. I think they might deserve their own post at some point, possibly quite soon.
****Of course, in our timeline this show was gone after a season or so, and NBC's Saturday Night was able to add "Live" to its title, giving us our beloved SNL. Since Howard Cosell would probably be dead or retired by now in that alternate timeline, I imagined Dan Dierdorf would take over for him. No basis of fact, I just thought it was funny. It's almost 4AM....why?
Ask anyone which years of SNL were there favorite and you are likely to get many different answers. If they were born before 1964, it almost assuredly will be the "classic" edition (1975-1980). If they were born after 1964, then it will almost assuredly be the years that fall between when they were 11 and 17. It doesn't matter if that six season blocks includes 1980-1981, 1985-1986, or 1994-1995*. You'll stick up for the years you watched in that age group. As such, I have a soft spot for both the Farley/Sandler/Spade/Schneider years, as well as the beginning of the Ferrell/Morgan/Shannon years. However, for people a few years older than me it would be Lovitz/Hartman/Carvey**, and a few years older than them it would be Murphy and Piscopo. I would guess those who just became legal drinkers fondly remember the Poehler and Myers, as kids just going into high school are sad that Forte, Samberg, and Wiig are no longer on the show.
Anyway, the point of this isn't to discuss which is the best, but to state that I've begun availing myself of the SNL episode runs on Netflix streaming. I actually had started several months ago, but only made it through the first season. After letting it sit in my queue for months, I decided to start back up, with the goal of going through every one up to the most recent in the list.
Unfortunately (of fortunately, depending on the season), only the first five are uncut. From season six on the episodes are edited and cut, most likely removing any sketches and musical acts that would create rights issues. Some episodes appear fairly intact, others are cut to the bone (I saw one latter day episode cut to 17 freaking minutes). On the plus side this will let me get through them quicker. On the minus side, however, I'll miss out on the complete experience, whether good or bad.
Don't worry, I won't be blogging every episode, because that would be far too much. But I might pop in here and there to write about it, particularly as I reach the end of the various cast runs. Expect opinions on whether the "Classic" episodes hold up***, the notorious troubled seasons, and much more.
So stay tuned, and remember in a different timeline I could be talking about thirty-eight seasons of Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell/Dan Dierdorf****
* The usual consensus for the three worst seasons, at least from the 20th century
** Truth be told, this is my favorite group, particularly 1987-1990. I caught the tail end of them, but enjoyed their reruns the most when they aired SNL sixteen hours a day on Comedy Central during college. However, my heart is still with those slightly later groups. My favorite season from that run is actually probably 1995-96, which had a few holdovers from the previous group (Spade, Macdonald, and Meadows) while introducing Ferrell, Darrell Hammond, and Cheri OTeri.
***One season and four episodes in it's been good, but not earth shattering. I didn't expect it to be, considering how what was totally brand new in 1975 is now the bedrock for most of my favorite comedy, and thus rather commonplace. The Muppets kind of suck, though. I think they might deserve their own post at some point, possibly quite soon.
****Of course, in our timeline this show was gone after a season or so, and NBC's Saturday Night was able to add "Live" to its title, giving us our beloved SNL. Since Howard Cosell would probably be dead or retired by now in that alternate timeline, I imagined Dan Dierdorf would take over for him. No basis of fact, I just thought it was funny. It's almost 4AM....why?
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
My Favorite Seasons of TV: Part Two
The Simpsons: Season Four
This was the toughest one of the bunch to pick. Frankly, any of seasons 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 would be worthy for this list. However, one of them stands above the rest just enough to represent what is quite arguably the greatest TV show ever. That season is season four.
Why? Because this is the season with "Marge vs. the Monorail" and "Last Exit to Springfield", two of the most cromulent episodes of the entire run of the show. And other than maybe the clip show, every other episode in this season is top notch. This is the season of "Mr. Plow", "A Streetcar Named Marge", and "Whacking Day". It is the season that began with "Kamp Krusty" and ended with "Krusty Gets Kancelled".
Um...excuse me. The season dealt with issues both thorny (faith) and well-trodden (young love, both done excellently. It is the season of "Can't sleep, clown'll eat me. Can't sleep, clown'll eat me." and "Iron helps us play!"
Hell, even Ralph has his day in the sun, reaching deep down and using heartbreak and humiliation to give one heck of a rendition as George Washington. Sure, some day he'll bend his wookie, but for one episode he was truly more than a joke.
Of course, there are several more great moments, but I don't have much space. Instead, enjoy music clip from "Last Exit to Springfield".
(That oughta hold the little SOBs)
Futurama: Volume Four
Frankly this season would be in the running if "Where No Fan Has Gone Before" and "The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings" were the only episodes in this season. However, there were many other episodes, such as the beautifully trippy "The Sting" and "Farnsworth's Parabox". The vitriol towards Fox (or network TV in general) can be felt from "Bender Shouldn't Be Allowed on TV", or the superhero parody "Less Than Hero". Oh yeah, can't forget about "Leela's Homeworld", particularly the ending.
Yep, a truly great set of episodes.
Oh, and we can't forget about this, can we?
Parks and Recreation: Season Three
We are conditioned to think more is better. So when we here a show has its episode count cut, we are worried about how that will affect the show. It has caused problems for some shows, including one that will appear later on this list. However, for Parks and Recreation, I think the abbreviated third season was an asset.
The season can be broken into two parts: the first part which resolves the Harvest Fest arc (filmed at the end of season two), and the nine other episodes, leading up to Leslie's big decision. Somehow the Ron, Leslie, Ben, Chris, and the P & R gang pull off a Harvest Fest, an impromptu wedding, and a beautiful memorial service for a Pawnee institution in those sixteen episodes.
My favorite part of the season has to be how Leslie just totally fights through her flu to give one hell of a presentation for the Harvest Fest. Somehow, I was as pumped watching that as Ben seemed to be, both simultaneously remembering Michael Jordan's lit-er-ally ill performance in the NBA Finals. Of course, I remembered this was a TV show, and that wasn't real. Unless Amy Poehler was actually sick during those scenes. If so, that would totally be method.
Community: Season Two
Each season of Community has had its moments. I'm sure even the upcoming Harmonless season will have great episodes and scenes. But by far my most favorite of the three currently produced seasons is season two. I suppose it is because this season had the greatest number of favorite episodes.
What can I say? "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas" has made my annual holiday show and film rotation. I'm a sucker for fake clip shows, like "Paradigms of Human Memory", and any show that promises a Pulp Fiction take-off, but delivers My Dinner With Andre instead is a winner (especially if the episode is good). And that is before I even mention "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons", which achieved that precarious balance of nerd wanking that was also heartfelt and earnest. Yep, no one can say season two was part of the darkest timeline.
The West Wing: Season Two
The second season of The West Wing picks right up where the first season left off, as we discover who had been shot outside the Newseum. It doesn't stop until the "Cliffhanger that wasn't really a cliffhanger, didn't you see Jed put his hands in his pockets?" In between, a friend helps Josh find his way out of a hole, and the White House celebrates the pursuit of science, even if the scientific mission failed. A noble senator stands up for his grandson in a far more sympathetic filibuster than most of crap that happens in real life. And all the while, Toby figures out the big secret 17 people know, and we're off on the road to "Two Cathedrals". It is my opinion that "17 People" to "Two Cathedrals" is the best five episode run of any show I've ever seen. If you've watched them and disagree, I can respect that. But if you haven't because you are afraid or can't be bothered, then I don't even want to know you.
Arrested Development: Season Two
I have to admit, this show is hard to sell to people. On the surface it's "plot" (a formerly rich and powerful family rebuilds after the head of the family goes to jail) isn't that enticing. Much of the humor is so densely packed, that it requires multiple viewings to get so many of the jokes.* Unless you've watched it so often that you've almost memorized it, it requires attention. I get all that, but it doesn't matter. This is the best comedy of the 2000s, and one of the best ever.
All three seasons have plenty to offer, but clearly season two stands above the others. Season one was just a warm up, whereas season three started to get a bit sloppy, although still quite sharp. But season two...season two is like all the juice you can drink.
My favorite episode of this season is "Good Grief", which is nestled in the early middle of the season. My favorite part of the episode (and this was tough to pick) is probably George Micheal's sad walk set to "Christmastime is here".
I'd include more clips, but I'm pretty sure after a while I'd include the entire episode, plus most of several episodes around it. Just go check them out for yourself, OK? As your resident maritime lawyer, Chareth Cutestory recommends it.
Honorable Mention: Star Trek: TNG: Season Four, Star Trek: DS9: Season Five, Newsradio: Season Four, Louie: Season Two
*It took me several times watching to realize there was a Henry Winkler "jumping the shark" joke in one episode. And this was one of the more obvious ones.
This was the toughest one of the bunch to pick. Frankly, any of seasons 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 would be worthy for this list. However, one of them stands above the rest just enough to represent what is quite arguably the greatest TV show ever. That season is season four.
Why? Because this is the season with "Marge vs. the Monorail" and "Last Exit to Springfield", two of the most cromulent episodes of the entire run of the show. And other than maybe the clip show, every other episode in this season is top notch. This is the season of "Mr. Plow", "A Streetcar Named Marge", and "Whacking Day". It is the season that began with "Kamp Krusty" and ended with "Krusty Gets Kancelled".
GABBO!
GABBO!
GABBO!
Um...excuse me. The season dealt with issues both thorny (faith) and well-trodden (young love, both done excellently. It is the season of "Can't sleep, clown'll eat me. Can't sleep, clown'll eat me." and "Iron helps us play!"
Hell, even Ralph has his day in the sun, reaching deep down and using heartbreak and humiliation to give one heck of a rendition as George Washington. Sure, some day he'll bend his wookie, but for one episode he was truly more than a joke.
Of course, there are several more great moments, but I don't have much space. Instead, enjoy music clip from "Last Exit to Springfield".
(That oughta hold the little SOBs)
Futurama: Volume Four
Frankly this season would be in the running if "Where No Fan Has Gone Before" and "The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings" were the only episodes in this season. However, there were many other episodes, such as the beautifully trippy "The Sting" and "Farnsworth's Parabox". The vitriol towards Fox (or network TV in general) can be felt from "Bender Shouldn't Be Allowed on TV", or the superhero parody "Less Than Hero". Oh yeah, can't forget about "Leela's Homeworld", particularly the ending.
Yep, a truly great set of episodes.
Oh, and we can't forget about this, can we?
Parks and Recreation: Season Three
We are conditioned to think more is better. So when we here a show has its episode count cut, we are worried about how that will affect the show. It has caused problems for some shows, including one that will appear later on this list. However, for Parks and Recreation, I think the abbreviated third season was an asset.
The season can be broken into two parts: the first part which resolves the Harvest Fest arc (filmed at the end of season two), and the nine other episodes, leading up to Leslie's big decision. Somehow the Ron, Leslie, Ben, Chris, and the P & R gang pull off a Harvest Fest, an impromptu wedding, and a beautiful memorial service for a Pawnee institution in those sixteen episodes.
My favorite part of the season has to be how Leslie just totally fights through her flu to give one hell of a presentation for the Harvest Fest. Somehow, I was as pumped watching that as Ben seemed to be, both simultaneously remembering Michael Jordan's lit-er-ally ill performance in the NBA Finals. Of course, I remembered this was a TV show, and that wasn't real. Unless Amy Poehler was actually sick during those scenes. If so, that would totally be method.
Community: Season Two
Each season of Community has had its moments. I'm sure even the upcoming Harmonless season will have great episodes and scenes. But by far my most favorite of the three currently produced seasons is season two. I suppose it is because this season had the greatest number of favorite episodes.
What can I say? "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas" has made my annual holiday show and film rotation. I'm a sucker for fake clip shows, like "Paradigms of Human Memory", and any show that promises a Pulp Fiction take-off, but delivers My Dinner With Andre instead is a winner (especially if the episode is good). And that is before I even mention "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons", which achieved that precarious balance of nerd wanking that was also heartfelt and earnest. Yep, no one can say season two was part of the darkest timeline.
The West Wing: Season Two
The second season of The West Wing picks right up where the first season left off, as we discover who had been shot outside the Newseum. It doesn't stop until the "Cliffhanger that wasn't really a cliffhanger, didn't you see Jed put his hands in his pockets?" In between, a friend helps Josh find his way out of a hole, and the White House celebrates the pursuit of science, even if the scientific mission failed. A noble senator stands up for his grandson in a far more sympathetic filibuster than most of crap that happens in real life. And all the while, Toby figures out the big secret 17 people know, and we're off on the road to "Two Cathedrals". It is my opinion that "17 People" to "Two Cathedrals" is the best five episode run of any show I've ever seen. If you've watched them and disagree, I can respect that. But if you haven't because you are afraid or can't be bothered, then I don't even want to know you.
Arrested Development: Season Two
I have to admit, this show is hard to sell to people. On the surface it's "plot" (a formerly rich and powerful family rebuilds after the head of the family goes to jail) isn't that enticing. Much of the humor is so densely packed, that it requires multiple viewings to get so many of the jokes.* Unless you've watched it so often that you've almost memorized it, it requires attention. I get all that, but it doesn't matter. This is the best comedy of the 2000s, and one of the best ever.
All three seasons have plenty to offer, but clearly season two stands above the others. Season one was just a warm up, whereas season three started to get a bit sloppy, although still quite sharp. But season two...season two is like all the juice you can drink.
My favorite episode of this season is "Good Grief", which is nestled in the early middle of the season. My favorite part of the episode (and this was tough to pick) is probably George Micheal's sad walk set to "Christmastime is here".
I'd include more clips, but I'm pretty sure after a while I'd include the entire episode, plus most of several episodes around it. Just go check them out for yourself, OK? As your resident maritime lawyer, Chareth Cutestory recommends it.
Honorable Mention: Star Trek: TNG: Season Four, Star Trek: DS9: Season Five, Newsradio: Season Four, Louie: Season Two
*It took me several times watching to realize there was a Henry Winkler "jumping the shark" joke in one episode. And this was one of the more obvious ones.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
TV Week begins: My Favorite Seasons of TV
From Tuesday through Friday, I'll be writing a post each day about TV. Why? Because I like writing and thinking about TV. Oh, and it's about time for new shows to return to the big four networks (and NBC*). Also, because Blogger's stats have shown people like reading my TV posts.**
Anyway, we begin with a list of my favorite seasons of TV.
For most TV shows, even in this age of serialization, a season is merely a business unit. A production schedule that says when new episodes are aired, and when they are replaced by reruns or a inconsequential and terrible summer reality show. Most people look at a show, and judge it on an episode to episode basis. Occasionally, some people will comment if a season was particularly full of great episodes, or was a complete departure from a previous season (good or bad). And of course there are the shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and Game of Thrones which are heavily serialized, so a season is like a book and its episodes are a chapters.
Being that I am not most people, I have a tendency to obsess over not only episodes, but seasons. This is true even for shows that aren't (or weren't) serialized at all, like The Simpsons or Newsradio. I like to compare a particular season of a show with another season, or occasionally compare a season of one show up against the rest of the seasons of TV I've ever watched. I am not a huge fan of ranking shows from best to worst, most to least, or some other metric. However, I do like creating collections of seasons that I consider the best of the show as a whole, or even the best I've ever seen.
It is with this in mind that I share my list of favorite seasons of all time. The rules are few and fairly simple.
1. Only one season per show. For some shows (Arrested Development) this isn't too hard, but others (The Simpsons), it can be pretty tough.
2. When I think of a TV show, the season has to stick out in my mind. As much as I love Breaking Bad and Mad Men, not a single season on either show separates itself from the others. This is not a bad thing, as it means all of the seasons are of a considerable high quality. It just means that I don't have a favorite.
3. Shows must have at least three seasons to qualify. In other words, I apologize in advance to any aggrieved Browncoats***.
4. For the purpose of this list, season whatever I associate more to be a comprehensive season. This should be known as the Futurama rule. In the case of that show, the "fourth season" means the fourth volume of the DVDs. These episodes were actually was split over two actual broadcast seasons. However, I became fully acquainted with them on the DVDs, and as such that is how I will treat them.
5. It should go without saying that this only applies to shows I have watched in their entirety, their currently available entirety, or at least a large enough body of their entirety to make an accurate assessment.
With those rules in mind, let's get started!
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season Three
Some people feel quite strongly the show went downhill after the Scoobies graduated from high school. While there is still plenty to recommend about the last four seasons of the show, there is no doubt that season three was the high point for the show. A big part of this is due to the season having the best big bad of the bunch in The Mayor. Unlike other seasons of the show, season three was consistent in tone, character traits, and quality. Also, this season had one of my favorite episodes, "The Zeppo", so that counts for something.
Angel: Season Five
Many shows get canceled well before their time, leaving fans to commiserate about what might have been****. Other shows hit the opposite extreme, limping along from season to season until every character has been married, won the lottery, or died of a heart attack*****. It is a rare show that ends it runs on a high note. After an enjoyable, but at times messy fourth season, Angel rebounded with a vengeance. It made troublesome or borderline annoying characters from BtVS awesome (either again or for the first time). It had that wonderful Whedon mixture of humor and senseless tragedy. It promised demon fighting brothers who were also Mexican wrestlers, foul mouthed demon puppets, and a not-annoying Connor, and somehow delivered on all three. And the ending of the last episode...that had to be one of the most thematically appropriate endings to a series I've ever seen.
The Office (US): Season Three
Yes, young ones, there was a time when Jim and Pam's relationship wasn't incredibly dull, and they were actually likeable. There was a time when Dwight wasn't such a cartoon, and was occasionally even sympathetic. Hell, Andy was even occasionally funny, but nowhere near as funny as that clueless Michael Scott. The awful British lady and fat James Spader were nowhere to be found. Ryan was still a dick, but a relevant dick. There was no Gabe, and Dunder-Mifflin was an independent company, with corporate officers who were actually interesting. Ann Perkins from Parks and Recreation was on the show, and she actually brought complications to Jim and Pam's relationship, which wasn't as yet consummated. Sure, Creed and Stanley were still funny, but so were Angela and Kevin on occasion. The show was funny, the cast was likeable, and it was well written, directed, and produced. So when we reminisce about those days, as that god-awful The Farm enters its sixteenth season, please turn off your holoproj of Office Babies and watch this crusty old video and see what we mean.
Moral Orel: Season Three
For two seasons, Moral Orel was a funny, often pointed and biting satire of fundamentalist Christianity. It centered around a young sinner named Orel, who in all respects seemed to be a genuinely good person who tried to be a good Christian, as well as a good son, brother, friend, and citizen. Even if that meant raising the dead, drinking his own urine, or helping the "slow" kid unlearn all that sciency crap. While Orel, and a few other characters as well, were treated with sympathy, the townsfolk and his parents were mainly their as foils, used to show the hypocrisy of extremism and absolutism, no matter the stripe. If those two seasons were alone, it would have still been an enjoyable Adult Swim show.
And then the third season happened.
In many ways, the seeds were sown from the beginning, as the first episode aired by Cartoon Network, "The Best Christmas Ever", was incredibly depressing. But the two part second season finale, "Nature" took it up another notch. Frankly, that was one of the darkest pieces of television I have ever seen.
Season three took it from there, weaving a connected story of the people of Moralton through its thirteen episodes. There are long parts of most episodes where there isn't much that is funny. Instead, we see into the lives of the people, and the vast majority of them are lonely, troubled, and in need of serious help. So many of them try to live up to the ideals of their church and society, despite it causing them so much grief and self-doubt. Even Orel himself comes to have doubts, wondering (justifiably so, given the events of "Nature") whether or not there is anything about his father that is worth honoring. Though few and far between, there are a few moments of clarity and healing for some of the people of Moralton. However, these require the people transcending the strictures of their extremist society and taking a more open and compassionate view towards their fellow man.
Despite all the darkness, the grief and the loneliness, the series ends on a hopeful note. Apparently there were seven scripts that were never produced, the show canceled before they could get any further. To me, that's a damn shame, although I probably represent about 17% of the fan club for the show.
=============
This is getting much longer than I intended it to be. In the interest of staving off
"tl;dr"s, I'm going to pick this up again tomorrow. Don't worry, this won't count as tomorrow's piece. Also, don't worry about this list being front-loaded. Many of my all time favorites will be in the list tomorrow as well.
*BURN! Oh wait, a few of my favorite shows are on NBC, and they are about to be canceled. Now I made myself sad.
**Or they like bouncing immediately elsewhere, because there are no nude photos of stars of a tagged show.
***But hey, two other Whedon shows qualify! And wasn't The Avengers a damn fine movie?
****Freaks and Geeks, Firefly, Luck
*****The Office (US), Family Guy, and Roseanne. The Simpsons should probably be on this list, but while far from the quality of their golden years, it still can sometimes knock a homer out of the park.
Anyway, we begin with a list of my favorite seasons of TV.
For most TV shows, even in this age of serialization, a season is merely a business unit. A production schedule that says when new episodes are aired, and when they are replaced by reruns or a inconsequential and terrible summer reality show. Most people look at a show, and judge it on an episode to episode basis. Occasionally, some people will comment if a season was particularly full of great episodes, or was a complete departure from a previous season (good or bad). And of course there are the shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and Game of Thrones which are heavily serialized, so a season is like a book and its episodes are a chapters.
Being that I am not most people, I have a tendency to obsess over not only episodes, but seasons. This is true even for shows that aren't (or weren't) serialized at all, like The Simpsons or Newsradio. I like to compare a particular season of a show with another season, or occasionally compare a season of one show up against the rest of the seasons of TV I've ever watched. I am not a huge fan of ranking shows from best to worst, most to least, or some other metric. However, I do like creating collections of seasons that I consider the best of the show as a whole, or even the best I've ever seen.
It is with this in mind that I share my list of favorite seasons of all time. The rules are few and fairly simple.
1. Only one season per show. For some shows (Arrested Development) this isn't too hard, but others (The Simpsons), it can be pretty tough.
2. When I think of a TV show, the season has to stick out in my mind. As much as I love Breaking Bad and Mad Men, not a single season on either show separates itself from the others. This is not a bad thing, as it means all of the seasons are of a considerable high quality. It just means that I don't have a favorite.
3. Shows must have at least three seasons to qualify. In other words, I apologize in advance to any aggrieved Browncoats***.
4. For the purpose of this list, season whatever I associate more to be a comprehensive season. This should be known as the Futurama rule. In the case of that show, the "fourth season" means the fourth volume of the DVDs. These episodes were actually was split over two actual broadcast seasons. However, I became fully acquainted with them on the DVDs, and as such that is how I will treat them.
5. It should go without saying that this only applies to shows I have watched in their entirety, their currently available entirety, or at least a large enough body of their entirety to make an accurate assessment.
With those rules in mind, let's get started!
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season Three
Some people feel quite strongly the show went downhill after the Scoobies graduated from high school. While there is still plenty to recommend about the last four seasons of the show, there is no doubt that season three was the high point for the show. A big part of this is due to the season having the best big bad of the bunch in The Mayor. Unlike other seasons of the show, season three was consistent in tone, character traits, and quality. Also, this season had one of my favorite episodes, "The Zeppo", so that counts for something.
Angel: Season Five
Many shows get canceled well before their time, leaving fans to commiserate about what might have been****. Other shows hit the opposite extreme, limping along from season to season until every character has been married, won the lottery, or died of a heart attack*****. It is a rare show that ends it runs on a high note. After an enjoyable, but at times messy fourth season, Angel rebounded with a vengeance. It made troublesome or borderline annoying characters from BtVS awesome (either again or for the first time). It had that wonderful Whedon mixture of humor and senseless tragedy. It promised demon fighting brothers who were also Mexican wrestlers, foul mouthed demon puppets, and a not-annoying Connor, and somehow delivered on all three. And the ending of the last episode...that had to be one of the most thematically appropriate endings to a series I've ever seen.
The Office (US): Season Three
Yes, young ones, there was a time when Jim and Pam's relationship wasn't incredibly dull, and they were actually likeable. There was a time when Dwight wasn't such a cartoon, and was occasionally even sympathetic. Hell, Andy was even occasionally funny, but nowhere near as funny as that clueless Michael Scott. The awful British lady and fat James Spader were nowhere to be found. Ryan was still a dick, but a relevant dick. There was no Gabe, and Dunder-Mifflin was an independent company, with corporate officers who were actually interesting. Ann Perkins from Parks and Recreation was on the show, and she actually brought complications to Jim and Pam's relationship, which wasn't as yet consummated. Sure, Creed and Stanley were still funny, but so were Angela and Kevin on occasion. The show was funny, the cast was likeable, and it was well written, directed, and produced. So when we reminisce about those days, as that god-awful The Farm enters its sixteenth season, please turn off your holoproj of Office Babies and watch this crusty old video and see what we mean.
Moral Orel: Season Three
For two seasons, Moral Orel was a funny, often pointed and biting satire of fundamentalist Christianity. It centered around a young sinner named Orel, who in all respects seemed to be a genuinely good person who tried to be a good Christian, as well as a good son, brother, friend, and citizen. Even if that meant raising the dead, drinking his own urine, or helping the "slow" kid unlearn all that sciency crap. While Orel, and a few other characters as well, were treated with sympathy, the townsfolk and his parents were mainly their as foils, used to show the hypocrisy of extremism and absolutism, no matter the stripe. If those two seasons were alone, it would have still been an enjoyable Adult Swim show.
And then the third season happened.
In many ways, the seeds were sown from the beginning, as the first episode aired by Cartoon Network, "The Best Christmas Ever", was incredibly depressing. But the two part second season finale, "Nature" took it up another notch. Frankly, that was one of the darkest pieces of television I have ever seen.
Season three took it from there, weaving a connected story of the people of Moralton through its thirteen episodes. There are long parts of most episodes where there isn't much that is funny. Instead, we see into the lives of the people, and the vast majority of them are lonely, troubled, and in need of serious help. So many of them try to live up to the ideals of their church and society, despite it causing them so much grief and self-doubt. Even Orel himself comes to have doubts, wondering (justifiably so, given the events of "Nature") whether or not there is anything about his father that is worth honoring. Though few and far between, there are a few moments of clarity and healing for some of the people of Moralton. However, these require the people transcending the strictures of their extremist society and taking a more open and compassionate view towards their fellow man.
Despite all the darkness, the grief and the loneliness, the series ends on a hopeful note. Apparently there were seven scripts that were never produced, the show canceled before they could get any further. To me, that's a damn shame, although I probably represent about 17% of the fan club for the show.
=============
This is getting much longer than I intended it to be. In the interest of staving off
"tl;dr"s, I'm going to pick this up again tomorrow. Don't worry, this won't count as tomorrow's piece. Also, don't worry about this list being front-loaded. Many of my all time favorites will be in the list tomorrow as well.
*BURN! Oh wait, a few of my favorite shows are on NBC, and they are about to be canceled. Now I made myself sad.
**Or they like bouncing immediately elsewhere, because there are no nude photos of stars of a tagged show.
***But hey, two other Whedon shows qualify! And wasn't The Avengers a damn fine movie?
****Freaks and Geeks, Firefly, Luck
*****The Office (US), Family Guy, and Roseanne. The Simpsons should probably be on this list, but while far from the quality of their golden years, it still can sometimes knock a homer out of the park.
Monday, August 20, 2012
The Newsroom
SPOILER ALERT: There will be spoilers for The Newsroom in this post.
I was going to wait until after the season finale to discuss the latest show from Aaron Sorkin. However, I changed my mind after watching the penultimate episode of the first season tonight, and reading Scott Tobias' latest review of the show. Frankly, I felt like I couldn't wait, and the last episode of the season is quite unlikely to change my opinion.
The West Wing is one of my favorite shows of all time, and Sports Night isn't too far behind. I've enjoyed all of the movies Sorkin has written that I've watched, and I still think the pilot of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was one of the best pilots I've ever seen. In short, I'm most certainly a fan of the guys work.
I enjoyed The Social Network and Moneyball, so it was natural I'd be excited for The Newsroom. It being on HBO added to the excitement, as after all "It's not TV, it's HBO". On top of that, it was about a news show trying to stand up and restore the integrity and power of the fourth estate, a cause that I believe in strongly. In short, I was looking very much forward to its debut after Game of Thrones wrapped up for another season. Obviously, expectations were running very high.
So I watched the first episode and it was...OK. Unlike many critics throughout the internet world, I wasn't instantly hateful of the show, but I could clearly see it was not living up to its potential. I dearly hoped it would get better. And it did...eventually.
By the later half of the season, I was liking a lot of what they were doing. Sure, the relationshiptriangle quadrangle between Don, Maggie, Jim, and Lisa was still insufferable, as was the whole Will/MacKenzie troubled past crap. And the shows tendency to play second guessing on real stories* made me so glad The West Wing and Sportsnight existed in mostly fictional timelines. But the whole plot between Charlie and Corporate has been well executed, and when they actually do, y'know, news the show works well. Episode eight had been a fine episode, further fleshing out the TMI/Lansing/Newsnight storyline and setting up a typical Sorkin abandonment of ideals, then regrouping scenario. Sure, the idea that Newsnight 2.0 would lose 50% of its voters to an awful howler monkey screeching about Casey Anthony**, and Neal came off as a bit awful in his quest to be a master troll. But it was fine, even given the "miracle blackout".
As expected as it was, I still love Sorkin's "stumble and redeem" arcs. I loved "Let Bartlet be Bartlet" and "Mary Pat Shelby". I knew this would be one of those types of episodes, and in fact I kind of guessed how he'd do it. The big important debate format would be rejected by the hot-headed GOP official, making their wallow in the filth of Casey Anthony and Anthony Wiener's...um...picture worth very little. Having lost that battle, they decide to recommit, and do real news again. Obviously, this would lose viewers, and give Jane Fonda a reason to fire Will.
For a few glorious moments in the episode, it appeared that I would be wrong, and Sorkin had come up with a brilliant way to redeem the team. They would use the blackout to their advantage, doing a seat of their pants broadcast outside. As MacKenzie and the team got fired up for this, I was really looking forward to a taught, tense hour of TV as they tried to put on a news show outside. Of course, until the buildup clearly showed they were going for a joke on this. A fucking joke.
Granted, I did laugh, but I'm not sure if I felt it was truly funny, or I was just trying to find it funny. I tried to find it entertaining, through the obvious debate format setup (right down to the sensible, older moderate Republican and hard-headed vengeance seeking young radical conservative, the latter of which had the power of refusal)***. I tried to rationalize the romantic entanglements that made up far too much of this episode, which should have focused again on the news and not fluffy shit. I even tried to enjoy Neal's trolling attempt, hoping it was going to lead to him trying to get through into Anonymous (and thus segue into season two with OWS and the likes). Instead, I don't know what the hell he is doing, going deeper into the hole and trying to involve a bodyguard and death threats in his trolling. Both Jim and Will try to play Josh Lyman/Dan Rydell in the episode, and it really doesn't fit well. And the less said about Lisa's digression into a soapbox speech on abortion in the middle of her Casey Anthony related interview the better.
Frankly, I've gotten more down on this episode as I think more about it, especially after the AVClub review brought up the "could have been" of the blackout show. I truly feel there are parts I've enjoyed, but far too much has been stuff I almost feel like I am trying to enjoy it. I do so because I want so badly to like it.
I want so badly to the like the show because I enjoy TV shows, movies, music, and books that make real points about life and our society's institutions, provided they are also entertaining. It's why Parks and Recreation is my favorite show currently running. It's why I love Deep Space Nine (and Star Trek in general). It's why I loved The West Wing and Moral Orel. Sure, I enjoy shows that are entertaining without great meaning, but that meaning is a nice salty, savory, or even bitter counterbalance to the sweet entertainment.
Most of all, I want so badly to like this show, because I want to justify my continuing to watch it. Right now there are far too many great shows on. I only have so much entertainment time in a day, and only a fraction of that is devoted to TV (and current shows at that). I'm sure I'll watch next season, but if it continues to disappoint like this night's episode, I might not be around for long. Basically what keeps me here is the bigger picture part of the show and Sam Waterston's performance as Charlie. Oh, and the hope, however forlorn, that Sorkin can do this again:
* Hey look, Maggie knows an attendant to the prime minister of Austria! Now we can get the scoop on the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand! Oh, and Jim knows Clemenceau's great nephew? BULLY! We'll stop this war yet!
** Seriously, the kind of people who would love Newsnight 2.0 are the same kind of people who would HATE shows like Nancy Grace. I could see them moving to Anderson Cooper, or some other not Fox News show talking about Casey Anthony, but not Nancy Grace. Also, the debt ceiling was not being ignored, just badly reported upon.
*** I totally believe the debates should be more about making candidates defend their positions and answer the damn questions, and not use them as pivots to their talking points. After all it is a debate, and not a freaking joint press conference. Still, the "Newsnight Fantastic Super Revolutionary Debate Format", which was merely Will interrupting the candidates and yelling at them, probably is not the optimal format.
I was going to wait until after the season finale to discuss the latest show from Aaron Sorkin. However, I changed my mind after watching the penultimate episode of the first season tonight, and reading Scott Tobias' latest review of the show. Frankly, I felt like I couldn't wait, and the last episode of the season is quite unlikely to change my opinion.
The West Wing is one of my favorite shows of all time, and Sports Night isn't too far behind. I've enjoyed all of the movies Sorkin has written that I've watched, and I still think the pilot of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was one of the best pilots I've ever seen. In short, I'm most certainly a fan of the guys work.
I enjoyed The Social Network and Moneyball, so it was natural I'd be excited for The Newsroom. It being on HBO added to the excitement, as after all "It's not TV, it's HBO". On top of that, it was about a news show trying to stand up and restore the integrity and power of the fourth estate, a cause that I believe in strongly. In short, I was looking very much forward to its debut after Game of Thrones wrapped up for another season. Obviously, expectations were running very high.
So I watched the first episode and it was...OK. Unlike many critics throughout the internet world, I wasn't instantly hateful of the show, but I could clearly see it was not living up to its potential. I dearly hoped it would get better. And it did...eventually.
By the later half of the season, I was liking a lot of what they were doing. Sure, the relationship
As expected as it was, I still love Sorkin's "stumble and redeem" arcs. I loved "Let Bartlet be Bartlet" and "Mary Pat Shelby". I knew this would be one of those types of episodes, and in fact I kind of guessed how he'd do it. The big important debate format would be rejected by the hot-headed GOP official, making their wallow in the filth of Casey Anthony and Anthony Wiener's...um...picture worth very little. Having lost that battle, they decide to recommit, and do real news again. Obviously, this would lose viewers, and give Jane Fonda a reason to fire Will.
For a few glorious moments in the episode, it appeared that I would be wrong, and Sorkin had come up with a brilliant way to redeem the team. They would use the blackout to their advantage, doing a seat of their pants broadcast outside. As MacKenzie and the team got fired up for this, I was really looking forward to a taught, tense hour of TV as they tried to put on a news show outside. Of course, until the buildup clearly showed they were going for a joke on this. A fucking joke.
Granted, I did laugh, but I'm not sure if I felt it was truly funny, or I was just trying to find it funny. I tried to find it entertaining, through the obvious debate format setup (right down to the sensible, older moderate Republican and hard-headed vengeance seeking young radical conservative, the latter of which had the power of refusal)***. I tried to rationalize the romantic entanglements that made up far too much of this episode, which should have focused again on the news and not fluffy shit. I even tried to enjoy Neal's trolling attempt, hoping it was going to lead to him trying to get through into Anonymous (and thus segue into season two with OWS and the likes). Instead, I don't know what the hell he is doing, going deeper into the hole and trying to involve a bodyguard and death threats in his trolling. Both Jim and Will try to play Josh Lyman/Dan Rydell in the episode, and it really doesn't fit well. And the less said about Lisa's digression into a soapbox speech on abortion in the middle of her Casey Anthony related interview the better.
Frankly, I've gotten more down on this episode as I think more about it, especially after the AVClub review brought up the "could have been" of the blackout show. I truly feel there are parts I've enjoyed, but far too much has been stuff I almost feel like I am trying to enjoy it. I do so because I want so badly to like it.
I want so badly to the like the show because I enjoy TV shows, movies, music, and books that make real points about life and our society's institutions, provided they are also entertaining. It's why Parks and Recreation is my favorite show currently running. It's why I love Deep Space Nine (and Star Trek in general). It's why I loved The West Wing and Moral Orel. Sure, I enjoy shows that are entertaining without great meaning, but that meaning is a nice salty, savory, or even bitter counterbalance to the sweet entertainment.
Most of all, I want so badly to like this show, because I want to justify my continuing to watch it. Right now there are far too many great shows on. I only have so much entertainment time in a day, and only a fraction of that is devoted to TV (and current shows at that). I'm sure I'll watch next season, but if it continues to disappoint like this night's episode, I might not be around for long. Basically what keeps me here is the bigger picture part of the show and Sam Waterston's performance as Charlie. Oh, and the hope, however forlorn, that Sorkin can do this again:
* Hey look, Maggie knows an attendant to the prime minister of Austria! Now we can get the scoop on the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand! Oh, and Jim knows Clemenceau's great nephew? BULLY! We'll stop this war yet!
** Seriously, the kind of people who would love Newsnight 2.0 are the same kind of people who would HATE shows like Nancy Grace. I could see them moving to Anderson Cooper, or some other not Fox News show talking about Casey Anthony, but not Nancy Grace. Also, the debt ceiling was not being ignored, just badly reported upon.
*** I totally believe the debates should be more about making candidates defend their positions and answer the damn questions, and not use them as pivots to their talking points. After all it is a debate, and not a freaking joint press conference. Still, the "Newsnight Fantastic Super Revolutionary Debate Format", which was merely Will interrupting the candidates and yelling at them, probably is not the optimal format.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Cautiously Optimistic: The 2012 Chicago Bears
On the eve of the Bears first preseason game against Peyton Manning and the Colts Broncos*, I'm not quite sure how to feel. For the first time in my Bears fandom they actually have a Quarterback worth caring about, as well as real wide receiver. Forte got his contract, and should be happy and ready to go. The defense, though its core is still rather old, looks like it will be solid again. By god, they might actually be contenders.
Nonetheless, I am trying to remain rather cautious in my optimism. I can't help but think back to that San Diego game last year. For the first time in a long time, the Bears looked like a real contender, a team that could actually do something. Cutler was tearing apart the Chargers, and a second straight playoff berth looked almost like a sure thing. Then Johnny Knox slipped, the Chargers intercepted Cutler's pass, and he made a touchdown saving tackle. Cutler broke his thumb on the tackle, and the season changed irrevocably. From there, the Bears went from one of their best games in at least five years, to two of their most embarrassing losses ever**.
Hopefully things will be better this year. Mike Martz is gone, and Cutler has his receiver in Brandon Marshall and his QB coach in Jeremy Bates. Mike Tice's offense should hopefully be tailored to his talents, and minimize the mistakes of the offensive line. With luck the Bears offense won't take half a season to get in gear. If not, the early season schedule might leave them in a hole.
At first glance the first eight games look easier than the last eight. They start with Colts, and play the Rams and Jaguars as well. The Packers and Lions are by far the two toughest opponents in the first half. They have four home games and four away games, so that shouldn't affect them much.
However, the thing that worries me are all the night games. After experiencing so many dreadful Bears performances on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights, I tend to dread these games. Sure, some of the greatest Bears moments have happened under the lights. So have far too many drubbings, including several by the hated Packers. Guess who there first prime-time opponent is? To add to the miserable mess, it's a Thursday night NFL Network game, my least favorite type of NFL game.
Sure, they begin the back half of the season with an NBC/ESPN prime-time back to back against the Texans and 49ers. But once those are done, they finish the season with six day games, with only one at this time scheduled for late afternoon.*** The back half does appear to be against tougher opponents, so not starting in a hole makes it that much more important.
In the end, this is the most excited for a Bears season I've been since at least 2006. Still, I am trying to tamp down my enthusiasm and remain cautiously optimistic. After all, the Packers are still a terrible matchup for the Bears, and the Lions don't look any less tough than they were last year. I'm sure even the Vikings have found a few ways to improve. Here's to another great season of football.
Oh yeah, my prediction? The Bears go 5-3 to start the season, and 5-3 in the back half. While it leaves them behind the Packers, they beat the Lions out of the playoffs, winning the Wild Card round and losing in the Divisional round. The Packers and Texans will win their conferences, and the Packers will beat the Texans, who are just happy to have made it that far.****
*Have to say it feels weird to type that. Seriously, I almost typed Colts based on muscle memory, even though I spent the previous thirty seconds telling myself to type Broncos.
**I think that 10-3 loss to the Chiefs was the worst game I had the misfortune to ever watch. Yes, it was worse than the dreadful Wannstedt years, worse than the 2003 season opener against the 49ers, even worse than anything involving Chad Hutchinson, Henry Burris, Johnathan Quinn, or Caleb Hanie's other games. And although most of the game the defense performed admirably, that Denver game wasn't much better. I think Marion Barber just fumbled again. Or did he go out of bounds?
***Unlike prime time games, I actually like the late afternoon game. Especially late in the season, it means the Bears are having a season worth watching. Or they are playing a meaningless game in Seattle or Oakland. Either way it is still better than those NFL Network games. In addition, the most amazing two week span of the last 23 years for the Bears (2001 against the 49ers and Browns) took place during the late afternoon games.
****Pre-emptive apologies to the Texans fans for your upcoming 5-11 season. No apologies for you Packers fan, you get what you deserve.
Nonetheless, I am trying to remain rather cautious in my optimism. I can't help but think back to that San Diego game last year. For the first time in a long time, the Bears looked like a real contender, a team that could actually do something. Cutler was tearing apart the Chargers, and a second straight playoff berth looked almost like a sure thing. Then Johnny Knox slipped, the Chargers intercepted Cutler's pass, and he made a touchdown saving tackle. Cutler broke his thumb on the tackle, and the season changed irrevocably. From there, the Bears went from one of their best games in at least five years, to two of their most embarrassing losses ever**.
Hopefully things will be better this year. Mike Martz is gone, and Cutler has his receiver in Brandon Marshall and his QB coach in Jeremy Bates. Mike Tice's offense should hopefully be tailored to his talents, and minimize the mistakes of the offensive line. With luck the Bears offense won't take half a season to get in gear. If not, the early season schedule might leave them in a hole.
At first glance the first eight games look easier than the last eight. They start with Colts, and play the Rams and Jaguars as well. The Packers and Lions are by far the two toughest opponents in the first half. They have four home games and four away games, so that shouldn't affect them much.
However, the thing that worries me are all the night games. After experiencing so many dreadful Bears performances on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights, I tend to dread these games. Sure, some of the greatest Bears moments have happened under the lights. So have far too many drubbings, including several by the hated Packers. Guess who there first prime-time opponent is? To add to the miserable mess, it's a Thursday night NFL Network game, my least favorite type of NFL game.
Sure, they begin the back half of the season with an NBC/ESPN prime-time back to back against the Texans and 49ers. But once those are done, they finish the season with six day games, with only one at this time scheduled for late afternoon.*** The back half does appear to be against tougher opponents, so not starting in a hole makes it that much more important.
In the end, this is the most excited for a Bears season I've been since at least 2006. Still, I am trying to tamp down my enthusiasm and remain cautiously optimistic. After all, the Packers are still a terrible matchup for the Bears, and the Lions don't look any less tough than they were last year. I'm sure even the Vikings have found a few ways to improve. Here's to another great season of football.
Oh yeah, my prediction? The Bears go 5-3 to start the season, and 5-3 in the back half. While it leaves them behind the Packers, they beat the Lions out of the playoffs, winning the Wild Card round and losing in the Divisional round. The Packers and Texans will win their conferences, and the Packers will beat the Texans, who are just happy to have made it that far.****
*Have to say it feels weird to type that. Seriously, I almost typed Colts based on muscle memory, even though I spent the previous thirty seconds telling myself to type Broncos.
**I think that 10-3 loss to the Chiefs was the worst game I had the misfortune to ever watch. Yes, it was worse than the dreadful Wannstedt years, worse than the 2003 season opener against the 49ers, even worse than anything involving Chad Hutchinson, Henry Burris, Johnathan Quinn, or Caleb Hanie's other games. And although most of the game the defense performed admirably, that Denver game wasn't much better. I think Marion Barber just fumbled again. Or did he go out of bounds?
***Unlike prime time games, I actually like the late afternoon game. Especially late in the season, it means the Bears are having a season worth watching. Or they are playing a meaningless game in Seattle or Oakland. Either way it is still better than those NFL Network games. In addition, the most amazing two week span of the last 23 years for the Bears (2001 against the 49ers and Browns) took place during the late afternoon games.
****Pre-emptive apologies to the Texans fans for your upcoming 5-11 season. No apologies for you Packers fan, you get what you deserve.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Nature's Splendor, Part Two
To read part one, click here.
After a short while, the bus finally pulled up. Slowly the crowd filed onto the bus, until finally they were all on and the bus pulled away. It had a couple of other stops in town, but finally it pulled onto California Highway 140.
Af first the terrain was little different than much of the train ride had been. The sprawl of Merced gave way to the pastures, fields, and orchards of the Central Valley. However, after leaving the small town of Planada, a new thing entered his view. While barely perceptible in the morning haze, they were unmistakable along the horizon. The high peaks of the Sierra were visible.
Seeing the purple mountains in the distance stirred something in Josh. He remembered this feeling, faint though it was. It was the feeling he had felt every summer, as his family drove west on I-40 out of HIckory, North Carolina. It was a happy feeling, albeit one that was tinged with impatience. The last time he had felt anything resembling it was when he started his job. It was anticipation.
As he thought it over, he hadn’t seen mountains like this in a while. He had gone to college in Iowa, and had worked most of his time since graduation in Chicago. His parents lived in Richmond, Virginia, and he had vacationed in Florida, Las Vegas, and New York. When he had crossed mountains, it had been in the pressurized comfort of a jet. There were mountains in Las Vegas, as well as all around his home in the Bay Area. However, these were merely part of the background, as he headed off to a casino, or sat in traffic on the way to work.
After many more miles of driving, the tall peaks of the Sierra Nevada disappeared. They were still there, of course. It was just that their foothills, several thousand feet tall themselves, overtook the view. Rocky outcropping and small hills first appeared, dotting the landscape amidst cows and pistachio trees. Finally the bus started going uphill, as the once straight road became rather curvy.
The plants were still rather scrubby, although oak trees became more prevalent. The bus made a quick stop at a small village called Cathey’s Valley, and continued on through the oak trees. The bus climbed again, even if the terrain really didn’t change. The road became even curvier as it ran past Agua Fria, once a former boomtown during the gold rush. A few miles later it entered Mariposa, a small town that was also the county seat.
The bus made a few stops in the town, as it was a gateway town to Yosemite for many tourists. There were several motels in town, as well as many other businesses. Shortly they passed out of town and into pine trees. This was short lived, however, as the bus went down into a canyon. Finally the bus leveled off, as the road met the Merced River. Once more the bus climbed towards Yosemite.
After a short while, the bus finally pulled up. Slowly the crowd filed onto the bus, until finally they were all on and the bus pulled away. It had a couple of other stops in town, but finally it pulled onto California Highway 140.
Af first the terrain was little different than much of the train ride had been. The sprawl of Merced gave way to the pastures, fields, and orchards of the Central Valley. However, after leaving the small town of Planada, a new thing entered his view. While barely perceptible in the morning haze, they were unmistakable along the horizon. The high peaks of the Sierra were visible.
Seeing the purple mountains in the distance stirred something in Josh. He remembered this feeling, faint though it was. It was the feeling he had felt every summer, as his family drove west on I-40 out of HIckory, North Carolina. It was a happy feeling, albeit one that was tinged with impatience. The last time he had felt anything resembling it was when he started his job. It was anticipation.
As he thought it over, he hadn’t seen mountains like this in a while. He had gone to college in Iowa, and had worked most of his time since graduation in Chicago. His parents lived in Richmond, Virginia, and he had vacationed in Florida, Las Vegas, and New York. When he had crossed mountains, it had been in the pressurized comfort of a jet. There were mountains in Las Vegas, as well as all around his home in the Bay Area. However, these were merely part of the background, as he headed off to a casino, or sat in traffic on the way to work.
After many more miles of driving, the tall peaks of the Sierra Nevada disappeared. They were still there, of course. It was just that their foothills, several thousand feet tall themselves, overtook the view. Rocky outcropping and small hills first appeared, dotting the landscape amidst cows and pistachio trees. Finally the bus started going uphill, as the once straight road became rather curvy.
The plants were still rather scrubby, although oak trees became more prevalent. The bus made a quick stop at a small village called Cathey’s Valley, and continued on through the oak trees. The bus climbed again, even if the terrain really didn’t change. The road became even curvier as it ran past Agua Fria, once a former boomtown during the gold rush. A few miles later it entered Mariposa, a small town that was also the county seat.
The bus made a few stops in the town, as it was a gateway town to Yosemite for many tourists. There were several motels in town, as well as many other businesses. Shortly they passed out of town and into pine trees. This was short lived, however, as the bus went down into a canyon. Finally the bus leveled off, as the road met the Merced River. Once more the bus climbed towards Yosemite.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Thoughts on What Happened in Aurora, CO
Up until Friday morning, this post was going to be my review of The Dark Night Rises, as well as some thoughts on this summer's movies. I was looking forward to sharing my thoughts on the movie, whether I liked it or not. Obviously, what happened early Friday out in Aurora, CO changed that.
Yeah, I still went to see the movie yesterday. I wasn't going to let some messed up asshole 1000 miles away change my plans. I was a bit uneasy doing it, even though I went through the probabilities of the situation. The likelihood of a second incident happening during a mid-day matinee showing was low, but I still found myself watching the exit door. I even made sure I'd sit in the seat closest to the door opposite of the exit door. The movie ended up capturing most of my attention, but to say it had my full attention throughout would be an exaggeration.
I love going to the movies, even if I have to drive an hour now to see a film at a decent theater. When I was living in Virginia Beach I ended up watching a movie every year. No matter how nice home theater systems get, they still cannot beat the communal experience of the cinema. The cool air, the big screen, the dark theater. It really is one of my favorite things to do, even when jerks are messing with their phones, or teenagers are wearing too much damn perfume.
I've even gone to a couple midnight showings. Each time was a special experiences, the packed theater giving off an almost electric vibe. When the lights went down on Return of the King, I certainly felt a rush of anticipation, as the long wait was over and all that remained was the movie. I imagine that the crowd that packed into theater 9 at the Century 16 in Aurora felt that same excitement as the trailers finished, and that Warner Brothers logo came up. Unfortunately, one of those moviegoers was actually a sick delusional fuckbag who decided to ruin it all in one minute of gunfire.
One of the people killed was Alex Sullivan. He was celebrating his twenty-seventh birthday watching the movie. Tomorrow wsa going to be his first wedding anniversary. This should have been a jubilant time for him and his family. Instead it will now be a time of mourning.
I love going to the movies for my birthday. When I was a kid it was oftentimes the one time a year I might get to see one in a theater. I love going to see movies on Thanksgiving weekend, and during the week between Christmas and New Years. I love it when the Oscar level films finally show up at our podunk theaters in January and February. From that first tentpole film in early May, through the big Memorial Day weekend release, to that last really big event movie in mid July I really love summer movie season. Heck, I even like the lean September/October and March/April periods, which have exposed me to some of my favorite movies.
During the regular course of life I can get rather tense. Watching DVDs, Blu Ray, or Netflix helps, but it isn't anything like those two or three hours of escape I feel in a theater. Until July 20, 2012 I never thought twice about my safety or ability to relax in a theater. I resent the hell out of this asshole who has made me doubt, even temporarily, my ability to relax in the warm glow of the silver screen.
In the larger picture, my slight inconvenience means absolutely shit. Because of that murderer, 12 families have been absolutely devastated. For the others who were in that theater, some will have physical scars. Many more, however, will have emotional and psychological scars to deal with. I can't imagine they'd likely be able to go to ANY theater, let alone the Century 16.
Frankly, I can't imagine what the victims, their families, and the family of the killer are going through. To act like I do would be disingenuous and self-serving. All I can do is keep them in my thoughts, and hope that they can find some solace and peace in this terrible time.
Over the next few days perhaps we'll get some idea as to why the killer did what he did. Of course, it might be days until the authorities can even get into his apartment, considering how meticulous it has been booby trapped. Supposedly he dyed his hair red and called himself "The Joker". As far as I know this is speculation, as is most everything else beyond his basic information. There already appears to be hoaxes and urban myths spreading, a fact of life in this age of rapid information distribution.
As for the rest of us, I'm sure we won't disappoint The Onion.
Yeah, I still went to see the movie yesterday. I wasn't going to let some messed up asshole 1000 miles away change my plans. I was a bit uneasy doing it, even though I went through the probabilities of the situation. The likelihood of a second incident happening during a mid-day matinee showing was low, but I still found myself watching the exit door. I even made sure I'd sit in the seat closest to the door opposite of the exit door. The movie ended up capturing most of my attention, but to say it had my full attention throughout would be an exaggeration.
I love going to the movies, even if I have to drive an hour now to see a film at a decent theater. When I was living in Virginia Beach I ended up watching a movie every year. No matter how nice home theater systems get, they still cannot beat the communal experience of the cinema. The cool air, the big screen, the dark theater. It really is one of my favorite things to do, even when jerks are messing with their phones, or teenagers are wearing too much damn perfume.
I've even gone to a couple midnight showings. Each time was a special experiences, the packed theater giving off an almost electric vibe. When the lights went down on Return of the King, I certainly felt a rush of anticipation, as the long wait was over and all that remained was the movie. I imagine that the crowd that packed into theater 9 at the Century 16 in Aurora felt that same excitement as the trailers finished, and that Warner Brothers logo came up. Unfortunately, one of those moviegoers was actually a sick delusional fuckbag who decided to ruin it all in one minute of gunfire.
One of the people killed was Alex Sullivan. He was celebrating his twenty-seventh birthday watching the movie. Tomorrow wsa going to be his first wedding anniversary. This should have been a jubilant time for him and his family. Instead it will now be a time of mourning.
I love going to the movies for my birthday. When I was a kid it was oftentimes the one time a year I might get to see one in a theater. I love going to see movies on Thanksgiving weekend, and during the week between Christmas and New Years. I love it when the Oscar level films finally show up at our podunk theaters in January and February. From that first tentpole film in early May, through the big Memorial Day weekend release, to that last really big event movie in mid July I really love summer movie season. Heck, I even like the lean September/October and March/April periods, which have exposed me to some of my favorite movies.
During the regular course of life I can get rather tense. Watching DVDs, Blu Ray, or Netflix helps, but it isn't anything like those two or three hours of escape I feel in a theater. Until July 20, 2012 I never thought twice about my safety or ability to relax in a theater. I resent the hell out of this asshole who has made me doubt, even temporarily, my ability to relax in the warm glow of the silver screen.
In the larger picture, my slight inconvenience means absolutely shit. Because of that murderer, 12 families have been absolutely devastated. For the others who were in that theater, some will have physical scars. Many more, however, will have emotional and psychological scars to deal with. I can't imagine they'd likely be able to go to ANY theater, let alone the Century 16.
Frankly, I can't imagine what the victims, their families, and the family of the killer are going through. To act like I do would be disingenuous and self-serving. All I can do is keep them in my thoughts, and hope that they can find some solace and peace in this terrible time.
Over the next few days perhaps we'll get some idea as to why the killer did what he did. Of course, it might be days until the authorities can even get into his apartment, considering how meticulous it has been booby trapped. Supposedly he dyed his hair red and called himself "The Joker". As far as I know this is speculation, as is most everything else beyond his basic information. There already appears to be hoaxes and urban myths spreading, a fact of life in this age of rapid information distribution.
As for the rest of us, I'm sure we won't disappoint The Onion.
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