Note: On Occasion, we will be reposting updated posts from the Quo Vadimus, the first iteration of this blog. Some might say this is because we're out of ideas, and they may be right. Just as accurately, we feel these posts are worthy of the "high standards" of Doctor Strangeblog, and deserve being exposed to you, our readers. We considered also editing the posts for content and to better cultivate our ideas, but we decided to keep the posts as they are, warts and all. In other words, we don't cotton to Special Editions around here.
Originally Posted: September 6, 2012
If you look at the majority of my favorite TV shows, most are serialized to some extent. They range from fully serialized shows such as Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones, to Star Trek: DS9 which has standalone episodes, but is dominated by a clear serialized storyline. Even Futurama, which isn't all that serialized in many episodes, has a clear line of continuity and a few multiseason arcs. Of my most favorite shows, only The Simpsons and Newsradio really don't have any serialized elements.
I'm not entirely sure why I favor serialization of more episodic shows. I think it's because I love getting enveloped by the mythology and back story, and abhor the usual repetition and note hitting of largely episodic procedural shows such as Law and Order, CSI, and NCIS. Frankly, they are tedious and slow to me, much in the way many people think about shows like Mad Men.
Of course, because I enjoy Continuity and Serialization so much, it can cause a bit of consternation with some of my favorite shows. The fact is in most cases us fans care much more about this crap than the show creators do. This isn't always the case, particularly the auteur shows like Mad Men or Breaking Bad. However, there are plenty of holes out there. For example, let's talk about The West Wing. Sure, there is a nice story arc for most of the characters through its entire seven season run. Sure, the length of Jed and Leo's friendship varied over time, but that was explainable. However, a bit less explainable* is that sad magical village known as Mandyville. Here former media consultant Mandy disappeared to without explanation after the first season. Also disappearing into this land were Republican Ainsley Hayes, youngest daughter of the President Zoey Bartlet, and several other secondary and tertiary characters. Obviously the most famous resident of Mandyville was Sam Seaborn, who just disappeared without explanation part way through the fourth season. Granted, both Ainsley and Sam came back from Mandyville at the end of the series, but it still was a bit frustrating. I know, I know, magic xylophone and a wizard did it and such**.
Also, it's interesting how quickly you can go down a very deep rabbit hole when thinking about show universes. For example, although there are obvious animation and creative similarities between The Simpsons and Futurama, the former is considered a fictional part of the latter's universe. This is partly because there are Bart dolls amongst the trash asteroid that was threatening Earth in one of the episodes. Your brain twists even more if you've seen a latter-day episode of The Simpsons where Bender makes a cameo. Of course, the best explanation is that The Simpsons is a stupid-age show running during Futurama, and Bender's "cameo" was during one of his short periods of in universe notoriety. Then again, the only references to The Simpsons are from the present day, not in the Futurama timeline (3000-3012). Yeah, I've spent too much time (read: any time) thinking about this crap.
Of course, I would be remiss if I talked about continuity and show universes and left out St. Elsewhere. The amount of connections that could theoretically exist and relate to the end of that series is absolutely astonishing, and there is even a "hypothesis" about this. Obviously this is going way too far, and clearly wasn't the intention of the writers of the show***. Still, it can be fun at times to think about this stuff.
Although it was one of the few shows that didn't have a connection to that St. Elsewhere finale, one episode of Newsradio did parody that ending***. Which I suppose should be appropriate considering that show's lack of serialization. In the end all of this stuff, even the really well tuned and serialized stuff, is fake. They are all constructs of fiction, perpetuated by fans and (for the forseeable future) by the copyright owners. Unlike our universe, these can be extinguished by us forgetting about them, or expanded into additional universes, where different possibilities and timelines exist. Hell, perhaps our universe is just a fictional construct of some other beings. Eh, whatever, as long as we aren't in the darkest timeline.
*It is less explainable in-universe. Obviously real world situations explain about every one of these.
**If you don't get these references, then God, Jed, I don't want to know you. Or you are twelve, and thinks The Simpsons is that so-so show before Family Guy.
***Or maybe they just want you to think that's the case. The truth is out there, man.
****I would have loved to point you to a clip of that ending, but I couldn't find it during a short search.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
There Goes the Funcooker: Saying Goodbye to 30 Rock
In 2006, two shows premiered on NBC. One was Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, the other 30 Rock. Both shows dealt with the behind-the-scenes happenings on sketch comedy shows. Studio 60 was Aaron Sorkin's return to television, while 30 Rock was Tina Fey's first big project since leaving Saturday Night Live. Sorkin's show was riding a lot of buzz generated by its excellent pilot that brought to mind Network. The pilot for 30 Rock, on the other hand, was roundly panned as being rather mediocre bordering on bad. I hadn't seen the 30 Rock pilot, but I loved the Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip pilot. I thought for sure that Sorkin had hit gold again, and a deserving successor to The West Wing had been found. If I even thought about 30 Rock, it was how it was likely to run through 13 episodes, maybe even a full season because of Lorne Michaels sway, and get cancelled.
Blergh, was I wrong.
Studio 60 ended up being far more "Bad Sorkin" than "Good Sorkin", and ignominiously bowed out after one season. These days it is rarely brought up, other than as evidence along with The Newsroom to show how "Bad Sorkin" has taken over his TV projects. The only time I think about the show is when Jeff Daniels is bitching about those young folks and their technology, when I remember how stupid it was Nate Corddry's parents didn't recognize Abbott and Costello, and when I listen to the admittedly great version of "O Holy Night" from the Christmas episode*.
Meanwhile, 30 Rock became one of my favorite shows, with Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy becoming two of my favorite characters of all time. Yeah, the pilot was not great, but it very quickly gathered its momentum, and was firing on all cylinders within a few episodes in the first season. The unhinged craziness of Tracey Morgan and Jane Krakowski worked wonders in contrast to the grounded craziness of Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin and the weird cheerfulness of Jack McBrayer. Beyond the big five characters, the rest of the group, including Scott Adsit and Judah Friedlander, helped flesh out the show. If those still weren't enough, the show had many great guest stars, ,such as Dean Winters, Jon Hamm, Will Arnett, and many others. Oftentimes it was the funniest show on television.
The core of the show was the relationship between Jack Donaghy and Liz Lemon. It was a special relationship, and fairly unique in that it was a friendship between a man and a woman character that didn't descend into "will they or won't they" nonsense. This seems to be a pretty rare thing, although more frequent in recent years with others like Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson, or Don Draper and Peggy Olson. I'm glad they never tried to force that situation, because it worked so much better as a platonic friendship.
And now, after seven seasons, it's time to say farewell to the show. Although I am sad to see it go, I am happy to say it is leaving strong. Unlike many shows, such as The Office, it is going out on its own terms, before it gets too stale. Although the show did get a bit weak (at times) in the middle of its run, it has rebounded to be consistently great the past couple of seasons. Of course, they have yet to stick the landing, so perhaps you'll see me on here tomorrow decrying the awfulness of Seinfeldesque proportions of the finale. Given the show's track record, I'm confident that won't happen.
*As annoying as the show could be, this was still a pretty great moment. Oh, the episode Allison Janney guest starred in was pretty good as well, if I recall.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
This Week in TV Marathoning
The current marathon of Doctor Who that Erin and I have been going through with various levels of intensity is almost over, as we've switched from Netflix to DVR to watch the episodes from the fall. After going through six series, plus the tenth doctor specials, plus a couple episodes from the current one, I have to say I've enjoyed the show. My favorite overall was probably the fourth series, and I like David Tennant the best of the three doctors. That isn't to say I've not enjoyed the adventures of Amy, Rory, and the Doctor, but I think the Tennant era was just a bit better. I also liked the first series with the ninth doctor a lot as well, even with Rose, who I am not a fan of for the most part. All in all, I'll be sad to finish up the current episodes, as that will leave yet another show to anticipate coming back.
The past couple of nights I finally gave in and started Portlandia on Netflix. There are only sixteen episodes and one special on Netflix, so this will be a pretty short marathon, considering I've already gone through eleven of them so far. I've enjoyed it so far. It's not exactly rip roaring funny, but it's a fun show. My favorite episode so far is the one involving a Battlestar Galactica marathon taking over the life of a couple characters in the show. Not only is it a pretty funny episode that includes guest spots by a couple of the actors from the show (and Ron Moore), I can relate to it because I believe I downed the entire series in about a two week span. Basically, if I wasn't working or sleeping I was watching BSG. Fortunately, I did not lose my job nor convince someone also named Ronald Moore to write another episode of the show.
I'm still working through Saturday Night Live on Netflix as well, having reached the 1988-1989 season. Mike Myers made his first appearance a few episodes before where I am now. I know that the rights and financial issues are too prohibitive, but I wish they'd add complete episodes beyond the first five seasons. Some of the best sketches are being left out because of this, and it just bugs my completist side. Still, it's a good thing to put on while I'm working, cleaning, or making dinner.
After I wrap up Doctor Who and Portlandia, I'm not sure what I might do from there. I have some other shows that have been sitting in my queue for a while, so it might be a good time to check them out. Of course, there are also a lot of movies I have queued up as well, both streaming and on disc, so perhaps I'll switch gears for a while. I guess we'll find out next week.
The past couple of nights I finally gave in and started Portlandia on Netflix. There are only sixteen episodes and one special on Netflix, so this will be a pretty short marathon, considering I've already gone through eleven of them so far. I've enjoyed it so far. It's not exactly rip roaring funny, but it's a fun show. My favorite episode so far is the one involving a Battlestar Galactica marathon taking over the life of a couple characters in the show. Not only is it a pretty funny episode that includes guest spots by a couple of the actors from the show (and Ron Moore), I can relate to it because I believe I downed the entire series in about a two week span. Basically, if I wasn't working or sleeping I was watching BSG. Fortunately, I did not lose my job nor convince someone also named Ronald Moore to write another episode of the show.
I'm still working through Saturday Night Live on Netflix as well, having reached the 1988-1989 season. Mike Myers made his first appearance a few episodes before where I am now. I know that the rights and financial issues are too prohibitive, but I wish they'd add complete episodes beyond the first five seasons. Some of the best sketches are being left out because of this, and it just bugs my completist side. Still, it's a good thing to put on while I'm working, cleaning, or making dinner.
After I wrap up Doctor Who and Portlandia, I'm not sure what I might do from there. I have some other shows that have been sitting in my queue for a while, so it might be a good time to check them out. Of course, there are also a lot of movies I have queued up as well, both streaming and on disc, so perhaps I'll switch gears for a while. I guess we'll find out next week.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Erin's Look Forward: Movies
After taking a quick gander at a list of 2013 releases, I figured now is as good as any a time to list, in my not-so-subtle fangirlish way, what movies I'm most excited for. I may as well get this out of the way; I'm not exactly the type of person who actively anticipates movies. I don't normally wait with crossed fingers and high expectations for the big indie flick, that I've been following since pre-production, to make it's way through film festivals. Therefore, the majority of this list will be less Oscar-baiting and more "this has superheroes and stuff explodes". This list does not include movies already released, with the exception of today's release.
Guillermo del Toro presents Mama (Today, 1/18)
I love supernatural horror. I can't get enough of being scared by cheesy, vengeful Asian ghosts. That aside, I also adore Guillermo del Toro and I trust his judgement when it comes to movies he writes, directs, and/or and produces. Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauna) and the Orphanage (El Orfanato) are two of my favorite examples of how he has a keen eye for blending horror, fantasy, and reality in ways that aren't over-the-top or trite. He has a knack for picking directors as well. In Mama, directed by Andrés Muschietti, two little girls are found in the woods (in the trailer, all covered in mud and looking generally pretty gross) and taken back to civilization. However, something, the eponymous Mama I presume, follows them there and then things happen probably (I don't want to guess at the plot, in all honesty). I doubt it'll be filled with cheap scare tactics and I really wish I had someone who loved horror as much as I do to go see it with.
Warm Bodies (2/1)
I guess I like the general premise around it - boy zombie meets girl human, falls in love, and it somehow - defying physiology and the paradigms of life and undeath - makes him more human or something. It looks like it might be a fun zombie flick but I'm not expecting anything amazing, really. I can see how the premise could fall flat, so I'll definitely wait for reviews before deciding whether or not I'll see it in theaters. I love all things zombies so I'm usually not too judgemental when it comes to the shambling corpses - I'll at least see it when it comes to DVD.
Oz: the Great and Powerful (3/8)
I don't know how I feel about this one. Aside from knowing James Franco, Mila Kunis, and Zach Braff are in the cast I honestly can't say I've bothered to look at any other details. I'm a die-hard Wizard of Oz fan - I grew up watching the 1939 classic and one of my favorite books and musicals is Wicked, which tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West. The trailer looks as though the visuals, if nothing else, will be stunning, so if the occasion arises to see it I probably will.
Jurassic Park 3D (4/5)
One word: Diiihnasaawrs!
Iron Man 3 (5/3)
Word on the street is that this Iron Man film will be noticeably darker than the previous two. The trailer is pretty intense and I guess it got some 15 year old girls on tumblr really upset. Being an avid Marvel fan, of course I would love to see this in theaters if at all possible, but I'm wary of how "gritty" the film may be willing to go. If it moves Movie-verse Iron Man's story arc along then that's fine; if it just gets dark for the sake of being dark then I'll probably be extremely disappointed. I don't think Pepper is going to die (you see a massive explosion in the trailer at one point by Stark's enemy, the Mandarin.) and in fact we may be treated to her eventual comic superhero persona, Rescue. I'd love to see more character development involving Pepper Potts; she's one of the rare Marvel characters who has a strong presence even without superpowers (and she's a woman! *gasp!*) and I don't think enough people realize how much crap she has to put up with, how much adversity she has to stand up to, and how much ass she can kick.
Star Trek Into Darkness (5/17)
Somehow J.J. Abrams restrained himself enough to tone down the lens flare, if the trailer is any indication. Other than that the trailer doesn't really give me much in terms of plot - something bad is happening, and it's happening on a super massive scale, and Benedict Cumberbatch stands around behind a glass wall looking silently evil. I can't wait.
Much Ado About Nothing (6/7)
What do you get when Joss Whedon invites some of his pals and colleagues over to his house? You get a contemporary comedy based on the Shakespearean classic of the same name. Those of you who know me know that Whedon's involvement alone is reason enough to go see the film - but the cast is just brilliant. Whedon alums Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof (who worked together in Angel: the series as Fred Burkle and Wesley Wyndam-Pryce who were also love interests) star alongside Nathan Fillion and Sean Maher (both worked in Firefly), Fran Kanz (who was in Dollhouse), and newcomer Jillian Morgese who I guess was uncredited in the Avengers. It's definitely a labor of love and I imagine it was a joy to make - and aren't those the best films to see? Unfortunately, Much Ado About Nothing will have a limited release, but I will seriously road trip if I have to in order to see this film.
Monsters University (6/21)
Prequel to one of my most favorite Pixar movies, Monsters, Inc., we find out how Mike and Sully met in college. Pretty basic premise, but one that could be a good template for a great story. My only misgiving is that I would have liked to see a story in Post-Fear Monstropolis, but I'd see the film anyway...as long as it wasn't another Cars film.
Pacific Rim (7/12)
At first I thought this was going to be a Voltron reboot...but then I realized it wasn't and I still didn't care because I love mecha fighting giant monsters. It looks like classic Kaiju dressed up with fancy visuals - and I am 100% okay with that.
The World's End (10/25)
Edgar Wright fans rejoice! The long awaited final film of the Cornetto Trilogy (the other two being Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) is finally here. By which I mean it'll be here in October. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost return to relive a pub-crawl to end all pub-crawls. Stuff happens, the world is at stake, and ice cream treats are eaten. Guaranteed to have some great moments, I can't wait for some new quotes to throw around. Also, if you don't understand my love for Wright, Pegg, and Frost, do yourself a favor and watch the series Spaced right now.
Thor: the Dark Worlds (11/8)
You guys. I am so excited for this film. And no, not just because I am an unashamed Marvel fangirl. Not because I rather enjoyed the first film (despite protests from a certain friend who will not be named that it is not that good). And not because Tom Hiddleston is omg so hot (although I prefer him without greasy black hair IMO). Well, actually, yeah, it's more like all those reasons rolled up into one with the added bonus of Christopher Eccleston (you probably know him best as the Ninth Doctor from the series Doctor Who) joining the cast to play Malekith the Accursed...who...you know...if the name didn't give it away...is a bad guy. The movie is set to take place after the events of the Avengers, which means we may find out how Asgard is dealing with Loki going insane. Oh yeah, almost forgot, the universe gets plunged into darkness too.
The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug (12/13)
If you haven't read the book I feel bad for you son; I got 99 problems but Erebor ain't one. Actually, that's a lie. There's going to be a lot of problems, and the introduction of Bard the Bowman who I always confuse as being named either Bard the Bardman or Bard Barderston. But no, really. Go read the book and then you'll understand why my review of An Unexpected Journey was so positive.
and finally, rounding off what looks like a promising year of movies:
Anchorman: the Legend Continues (12/20)
Stay classy, Ron Burgundy. You know what I said about looking forward to new quotes to throw around?
...
...
I can't resist. "Oh Baxter, you know I don't speak Spanish!"
Stray Notes:
Well folks, there you have it. What films are you looking forward to in the upcoming year?
Guillermo del Toro presents Mama (Today, 1/18)
I love supernatural horror. I can't get enough of being scared by cheesy, vengeful Asian ghosts. That aside, I also adore Guillermo del Toro and I trust his judgement when it comes to movies he writes, directs, and/or and produces. Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauna) and the Orphanage (El Orfanato) are two of my favorite examples of how he has a keen eye for blending horror, fantasy, and reality in ways that aren't over-the-top or trite. He has a knack for picking directors as well. In Mama, directed by Andrés Muschietti, two little girls are found in the woods (in the trailer, all covered in mud and looking generally pretty gross) and taken back to civilization. However, something, the eponymous Mama I presume, follows them there and then things happen probably (I don't want to guess at the plot, in all honesty). I doubt it'll be filled with cheap scare tactics and I really wish I had someone who loved horror as much as I do to go see it with.
Warm Bodies (2/1)
I guess I like the general premise around it - boy zombie meets girl human, falls in love, and it somehow - defying physiology and the paradigms of life and undeath - makes him more human or something. It looks like it might be a fun zombie flick but I'm not expecting anything amazing, really. I can see how the premise could fall flat, so I'll definitely wait for reviews before deciding whether or not I'll see it in theaters. I love all things zombies so I'm usually not too judgemental when it comes to the shambling corpses - I'll at least see it when it comes to DVD.
Oz: the Great and Powerful (3/8)
I don't know how I feel about this one. Aside from knowing James Franco, Mila Kunis, and Zach Braff are in the cast I honestly can't say I've bothered to look at any other details. I'm a die-hard Wizard of Oz fan - I grew up watching the 1939 classic and one of my favorite books and musicals is Wicked, which tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West. The trailer looks as though the visuals, if nothing else, will be stunning, so if the occasion arises to see it I probably will.
Jurassic Park 3D (4/5)
One word: Diiihnasaawrs!
Iron Man 3 (5/3)
Word on the street is that this Iron Man film will be noticeably darker than the previous two. The trailer is pretty intense and I guess it got some 15 year old girls on tumblr really upset. Being an avid Marvel fan, of course I would love to see this in theaters if at all possible, but I'm wary of how "gritty" the film may be willing to go. If it moves Movie-verse Iron Man's story arc along then that's fine; if it just gets dark for the sake of being dark then I'll probably be extremely disappointed. I don't think Pepper is going to die (you see a massive explosion in the trailer at one point by Stark's enemy, the Mandarin.) and in fact we may be treated to her eventual comic superhero persona, Rescue. I'd love to see more character development involving Pepper Potts; she's one of the rare Marvel characters who has a strong presence even without superpowers (and she's a woman! *gasp!*) and I don't think enough people realize how much crap she has to put up with, how much adversity she has to stand up to, and how much ass she can kick.
Star Trek Into Darkness (5/17)
Somehow J.J. Abrams restrained himself enough to tone down the lens flare, if the trailer is any indication. Other than that the trailer doesn't really give me much in terms of plot - something bad is happening, and it's happening on a super massive scale, and Benedict Cumberbatch stands around behind a glass wall looking silently evil. I can't wait.
Much Ado About Nothing (6/7)
What do you get when Joss Whedon invites some of his pals and colleagues over to his house? You get a contemporary comedy based on the Shakespearean classic of the same name. Those of you who know me know that Whedon's involvement alone is reason enough to go see the film - but the cast is just brilliant. Whedon alums Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof (who worked together in Angel: the series as Fred Burkle and Wesley Wyndam-Pryce who were also love interests) star alongside Nathan Fillion and Sean Maher (both worked in Firefly), Fran Kanz (who was in Dollhouse), and newcomer Jillian Morgese who I guess was uncredited in the Avengers. It's definitely a labor of love and I imagine it was a joy to make - and aren't those the best films to see? Unfortunately, Much Ado About Nothing will have a limited release, but I will seriously road trip if I have to in order to see this film.
Monsters University (6/21)
Prequel to one of my most favorite Pixar movies, Monsters, Inc., we find out how Mike and Sully met in college. Pretty basic premise, but one that could be a good template for a great story. My only misgiving is that I would have liked to see a story in Post-Fear Monstropolis, but I'd see the film anyway...as long as it wasn't another Cars film.
Pacific Rim (7/12)
At first I thought this was going to be a Voltron reboot...but then I realized it wasn't and I still didn't care because I love mecha fighting giant monsters. It looks like classic Kaiju dressed up with fancy visuals - and I am 100% okay with that.
The World's End (10/25)
Edgar Wright fans rejoice! The long awaited final film of the Cornetto Trilogy (the other two being Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) is finally here. By which I mean it'll be here in October. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost return to relive a pub-crawl to end all pub-crawls. Stuff happens, the world is at stake, and ice cream treats are eaten. Guaranteed to have some great moments, I can't wait for some new quotes to throw around. Also, if you don't understand my love for Wright, Pegg, and Frost, do yourself a favor and watch the series Spaced right now.
Thor: the Dark Worlds (11/8)
You guys. I am so excited for this film. And no, not just because I am an unashamed Marvel fangirl. Not because I rather enjoyed the first film (despite protests from a certain friend who will not be named that it is not that good). And not because Tom Hiddleston is omg so hot (although I prefer him without greasy black hair IMO). Well, actually, yeah, it's more like all those reasons rolled up into one with the added bonus of Christopher Eccleston (you probably know him best as the Ninth Doctor from the series Doctor Who) joining the cast to play Malekith the Accursed...who...you know...if the name didn't give it away...is a bad guy. The movie is set to take place after the events of the Avengers, which means we may find out how Asgard is dealing with Loki going insane. Oh yeah, almost forgot, the universe gets plunged into darkness too.
The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug (12/13)
If you haven't read the book I feel bad for you son; I got 99 problems but Erebor ain't one. Actually, that's a lie. There's going to be a lot of problems, and the introduction of Bard the Bowman who I always confuse as being named either Bard the Bardman or Bard Barderston. But no, really. Go read the book and then you'll understand why my review of An Unexpected Journey was so positive.
and finally, rounding off what looks like a promising year of movies:
Anchorman: the Legend Continues (12/20)
Stay classy, Ron Burgundy. You know what I said about looking forward to new quotes to throw around?
...
...
I can't resist. "Oh Baxter, you know I don't speak Spanish!"
Stray Notes:
- Is it just me or is that poster freaking awesome? ^ Yeah, I know...OMG ORANGE AND BLUE IN THE POSTER IT MEANS THE MOVIE IS CRAP AND THEY JUST WANT YOU TO GO SEE IT BY SUBLIMINALLY APPEASING OUR BRAINS WITH COLORS. Well, dammit, it works. I want that hanging on my wall.
- Being an avid Cracked.com junkie, I should probably go see John Dies at the End, which is based on a book of the same name written by editor David Wong. However, I personally don't find Wong that amusing (in fact, I find him downright condescending and flat-out wrong on several issues - he tends to only publish an article when it involves berating people for something). So yeah, I'll probably skip it.
- There's an Evil Dead remake, because apparently someone decided that needed to be done I guess. The original Raimi version is good enough for me, so I'll pass.
- I'm a Baz Luhrmann fan, unashamedly, but I'm not sure where I stand on the Great Gatsby. As of this writing I have no interest in seeing it, but as my mood changes my opinion may change as well.
- You may be wondering why World War Z isn't on the list. After all, the book of the same name is one of my favorite books of all time, and it's about zombies...how bad could it be? Remember when I said I wasn't too judgemental about zombie flicks? Meet the exception. My problem with the adaptation is that it is one in name only. The book is divided so that each individual chapter tells a different story from survivors all around the world, gathered together by one man. The movie looks like standard "focusing on one guy as he runs around trying to survive with his family" stuff. The book was an excellent allegory for modern global politics - the movie looks like Brad Pitt does hero stuff. Perhaps it would have worked better as a mini-series in order to maintain the style and tone of the book. I may be pleasantly surprised when reviews come out for it, but I'm not holding my breath.
- How is Johnny Depp dressed up as a stereotypical non-descript Indian (including speaking in broken English) not considered really, really, racist? That alone is making me utter the dreaded "meh" in terms of the Lone Ranger.
- Ever since X-Men: the Last Stand I haven't been able to watch an X-Men film that follows without disgust. X-Men Origins was pretty rage-inducing (BONE CLAWS? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? The war/time progression sequence was pretty cool though) and First Class looked hokey as all get out. I'm going to pass for now on the Wolverine and just watch X-Men and X2 over and over.
- For a brief moment I read the title for Closed Circuit and confused it as a remake of Short Circuit. It is not.
- Really? An American Oldboy remake? Is nothing sacred? The popular Korean film gets mediocre-d.
Well folks, there you have it. What films are you looking forward to in the upcoming year?
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The Silence is Glory (also, Continuity is Important and I rant about stuff)
Yes, I know I'm behind a series, so some of my questions might have answers now. For all intents and purposes, though, remember I'm viewing this for the first time.
I've finally been goaded into watching Eleven's run of Doctor Who. While my thoughts on Series 5 currently boil down to "I like it, but there were some paradoxes that I think were worth addressing". I'd like to talk about the first two episodes of Series 6, "the Impossible Astronaut" and "Day of the Moon".
The Silence erases your memory of it after you look away. I would have been more shocked at this revelation and the general problems it causes if Whedon hadn't already covered that in the fifth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
I know, I know, I automatically think everybody adores Joss Whedon as much as I do, but I find the thought amusing. And it was the first thing I thought of once it was revealed that the Silence is forgotten immediately, and I'm always itching to use a good dialogue and....
Also, in "Day of the Moon", with all the hub-bub of the moon landing I have to wonder why the Doctor didn't know about it before...after all it was established in "Blink" (Series 3) that he and Martha had been to the moon landing four times already. Moffat. Moffat, Moffat, Moffat. Are you even trying for any sort of continuity?
Yeah, I know, I come off as the nerd from the Simpsons who goes "I hope somebody got fired for that blunder.", but I stand by it. Continuity is important for me, and I really respect it when writers take the time to close plot holes or at least acknowledge, as a normal character would, that something relevant to the situation at hand happens to them. It's not just about throw-backs, it's about saying "oh you're going to Disney World? I used to work at Disney World!", because that's a thing that all characters, no matter how man-boyish or broody or twee or whatever they are, do. Unless they hate you, then they'd probably not say anything. On the other hand, I concede that given the Doctor's history (all eleven versions) that means he's probably got an anecdote for every given situation. I know I would.
And then there's River Song. I like River a lot, I really do, but she poses a lot of problems for continuity. I'm afraid Moffat is going to write himself into a corner, and then I'll be pissed because he'll retcon it in a stupid way or just not acknowledge it at all. Like for instance, the Doctor being 200 years old at the time he gathers Amy, Rory, and River. Really? Eleven is going to live for 200 more years? Because he can't seem to go 5 years without having to regenerate. So. You know. I'm sure many of the Rose x Doctor fangirls/boys out there don't like River because she clearly invalidates all of their fanfiction but secretly I hope that some die-hard fan that loved the idea of Sarah Jane Smith and Four running away together is pleased that the Rose fans get their comeuppance. *
Oh screw it I'm going to talk about the paradoxes in Season 5. Paradoxes and Doctor Who don't bother me normally because it's a fact of life and it's a tv show (I should really just relax). So aside from the fact that the Doctor knew to post a note to Amy at the Museum and drop a brochure off at her home because Amy informs him that she received a post-it and a brochure at her home (I can forgive that kind of thing), wouldn't the Doctor, having gone on the other side of the "crack" in space and time, have been erased from existence in that ALL the events and more of "Turn Left" (Series 4) would happen?
More importantly, is "remembering" the Doctor to will him back into existence exclusive to Amy? I know she had the universe running through her head and whatnot, but that stopped when the wall fixed itself. You could argue that everything he was involved in and subsequently fixed still happened until the point he passed through the crack in the wall, but its mentioned several times (and made very clear as a plot point for Rory) that going through the crack means its like you were never even born.
SO if all it takes to get the Doctor to show up once he's been erased is to remember, then what about Rose and MetaTen chilling out in the other dimension? Like obviously they haven't forgotten the Doctor. And now Eleven is going to show up in the other Universe and have to bunk with them and Ten will see what a ridiculous man-child his other self turned into. It's like the premise of a 70's era sitcom. "My Two Doctors".
Obviously that didn't happen and all is dandy, but it seriously kept me from falling asleep last night. Because apparently these are the problems in life that matter.
Also can I talk about Amy Pond? I really, really love Amy. And Rory. Like, a lot more than I thought I would. Martha has always been my favorite companion, followed in a close second by Donna, but the Ponds are right behind them. It's becoming a close race (companions are horses now, apparently). Amy is just so fiesty and kind of authentic. She reminds me of me in that she frequently insults (endearingly) those she cares about most....like telling Rory he has a stupid face, although she may not mean to be insulting about it. I wonder if its like some sort of defense mechanism because she might have trust issues. She's overall a really well-rounded character and I'll be sad to see her (and Rory) go. (And yes, I know where and when the Ponds peace out...thanks tumblr!). Also Rory is super adorable.
Alright, this post really went to a bunch of different places that I hadn't intended on taking it, but there you have it. In review: I like Amy and Rory, Eleven is growing on me, Moffat needs a better script supervisor, and I find the Ben is Glory schtick from Buffy to be hilarious.
*to be expanded on in a later post, maybe. If I get around to it.
I've finally been goaded into watching Eleven's run of Doctor Who. While my thoughts on Series 5 currently boil down to "I like it, but there were some paradoxes that I think were worth addressing". I'd like to talk about the first two episodes of Series 6, "the Impossible Astronaut" and "Day of the Moon".
The Silence erases your memory of it after you look away. I would have been more shocked at this revelation and the general problems it causes if Whedon hadn't already covered that in the fifth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
I like to believe that Moffat, the main writer and current Showrunner for Doctor Who, is secretly Whedon's biggest fan and is strangely competitive with him. That would please me. It is now reality headcanon.
- Spike: “Ben is Glory.”
Willow: “You mean…Ben's with Glory?”
Xander: “‘With’” in what sense?”
Anya: “They're working together?”
Spike: “No. No. Ben is Glory. Glory's Ben. They're one and the same.”
Anya: “When did all this happen?”
Spike: “Not one hour ago! Right here, before your very eyes! Ben came, he turned into Glory, snatched the kid, and pfft! Vanished, remember? You do remember…? Is everyone here very stoned? Ben! Glory! He's a doctor, she's the beast. Two entirely separate entities sharing one body. Like a bloody sitcom. Surely you remember.”
Xander: “So you're saying…Ben and Glory….”
Anya: “Have a connection.”
Giles: “Yes, obviously, but what kind?”
Spike: “Oh, I get it. That's very crafty. Glory's worked the kind of mojo where anyone who sees her little presto-change-o instantly forgets. And yours truly, being somewhat other than human…stands immune.”
Willow: “So…Ben and Glory…are-are the same person?”
Xander: “Glory can turn into Ben, and Ben turns back into Glory.”
Anya: “And anyone who sees it instantly forgets.”
Spike: “Kewpie doll for the lady.”
Giles: “Excellent. Now. Do we suspect there may be some kind of connection between Ben and Glory?”
I know, I know, I automatically think everybody adores Joss Whedon as much as I do, but I find the thought amusing. And it was the first thing I thought of once it was revealed that the Silence is forgotten immediately, and I'm always itching to use a good dialogue and....
Also, in "Day of the Moon", with all the hub-bub of the moon landing I have to wonder why the Doctor didn't know about it before...after all it was established in "Blink" (Series 3) that he and Martha had been to the moon landing four times already. Moffat. Moffat, Moffat, Moffat. Are you even trying for any sort of continuity?
Yeah, I know, I come off as the nerd from the Simpsons who goes "I hope somebody got fired for that blunder.", but I stand by it. Continuity is important for me, and I really respect it when writers take the time to close plot holes or at least acknowledge, as a normal character would, that something relevant to the situation at hand happens to them. It's not just about throw-backs, it's about saying "oh you're going to Disney World? I used to work at Disney World!", because that's a thing that all characters, no matter how man-boyish or broody or twee or whatever they are, do. Unless they hate you, then they'd probably not say anything. On the other hand, I concede that given the Doctor's history (all eleven versions) that means he's probably got an anecdote for every given situation. I know I would.
And then there's River Song. I like River a lot, I really do, but she poses a lot of problems for continuity. I'm afraid Moffat is going to write himself into a corner, and then I'll be pissed because he'll retcon it in a stupid way or just not acknowledge it at all. Like for instance, the Doctor being 200 years old at the time he gathers Amy, Rory, and River. Really? Eleven is going to live for 200 more years? Because he can't seem to go 5 years without having to regenerate. So. You know. I'm sure many of the Rose x Doctor fangirls/boys out there don't like River because she clearly invalidates all of their fanfiction but secretly I hope that some die-hard fan that loved the idea of Sarah Jane Smith and Four running away together is pleased that the Rose fans get their comeuppance. *
Oh screw it I'm going to talk about the paradoxes in Season 5. Paradoxes and Doctor Who don't bother me normally because it's a fact of life and it's a tv show (I should really just relax). So aside from the fact that the Doctor knew to post a note to Amy at the Museum and drop a brochure off at her home because Amy informs him that she received a post-it and a brochure at her home (I can forgive that kind of thing), wouldn't the Doctor, having gone on the other side of the "crack" in space and time, have been erased from existence in that ALL the events and more of "Turn Left" (Series 4) would happen?
More importantly, is "remembering" the Doctor to will him back into existence exclusive to Amy? I know she had the universe running through her head and whatnot, but that stopped when the wall fixed itself. You could argue that everything he was involved in and subsequently fixed still happened until the point he passed through the crack in the wall, but its mentioned several times (and made very clear as a plot point for Rory) that going through the crack means its like you were never even born.
SO if all it takes to get the Doctor to show up once he's been erased is to remember, then what about Rose and MetaTen chilling out in the other dimension? Like obviously they haven't forgotten the Doctor. And now Eleven is going to show up in the other Universe and have to bunk with them and Ten will see what a ridiculous man-child his other self turned into. It's like the premise of a 70's era sitcom. "My Two Doctors".
Obviously that didn't happen and all is dandy, but it seriously kept me from falling asleep last night. Because apparently these are the problems in life that matter.
Also can I talk about Amy Pond? I really, really love Amy. And Rory. Like, a lot more than I thought I would. Martha has always been my favorite companion, followed in a close second by Donna, but the Ponds are right behind them. It's becoming a close race (companions are horses now, apparently). Amy is just so fiesty and kind of authentic. She reminds me of me in that she frequently insults (endearingly) those she cares about most....like telling Rory he has a stupid face, although she may not mean to be insulting about it. I wonder if its like some sort of defense mechanism because she might have trust issues. She's overall a really well-rounded character and I'll be sad to see her (and Rory) go. (And yes, I know where and when the Ponds peace out...thanks tumblr!). Also Rory is super adorable.
Alright, this post really went to a bunch of different places that I hadn't intended on taking it, but there you have it. In review: I like Amy and Rory, Eleven is growing on me, Moffat needs a better script supervisor, and I find the Ben is Glory schtick from Buffy to be hilarious.
*to be expanded on in a later post, maybe. If I get around to it.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
My thoughts on the Bears Hiring of Mark Trestman
Of all the possible candidates I thought Phil Emery would hire after firing Lovie Smith, Mark Trestman was not on my list. As I am not a follower of the CFL, obsessed with the fortunes of current and former NFL assistants, and am not one of the quarterbacks he helped prepare for the pros, I would be hard pressed to know who he was. Before his named popped up during the coaching search, the only other time I had heard it was an episode of 30 Rock, and I probably assumed he was just a star player on the Grey Cup winning Alouettes.
Nevertheless, as I got to know his resume and hear what people are saying about him, I feel really good about him being the Bears head coach. He sounds very smart, very details oriented, and very methodical. Intelligence doesn't necessarily translate to being a great coach* but it certainly can help. Hopefully he'll be able to end some of the chaos and confusion that has dominated the Bears sidelines for as far back as I can remember. I would love to see those damn early 2nd quarter time outs to disappear.
Given his reputation as a "quarterback whisperer", I'm eager to see if he can help Jay Cutler be the quarterback we were hoping he'd be. My guess is that he'll help Cutler turn the ship around, or Cutler (and perhaps Trestman) could go down in a maelstrom of Jeff Georgeian suckitude. Only time will tell.
Beyond Cutler, I'm wonder how the rest of the team will respond to the new coach. It's no shock that a lot of the players disagreed with the firing of Lovie Smith. It's possible Devin Hester may not play another down for the team, and I'm sure there will be other Bears players who just won't fit with the changed environment. Although its not guaranteed as of yet, the possibility that they'll keep Rod Marinelli as the Defensive Coordinator might help smooth the waters. Of course, that assumes Marinelli sticks around, and being a friend of Lovie he may find another place to be defensive coordinator, like longtime special teams coach Dave Toub did.
Mark Trestman is the first coach from the offensive side of the ball hired by the Bears since Mike Ditka in 1982. I'm hopeful that he'll be able to bring that elusive consistency which has dogged the Bears offense for as long as I can remember. Any amount of improvement he can get from Cutler will help, but it might be for naught if he can't get the offensive line fixed.
Beyond who Phil Emery hired, I was impressed with how he made the choice. It was done smoothly, with apparent due diligence, and without the usual Bears screw ups. Barring anything crazy, like Trestman turns out to be an internet hoax, there won't be anything like the Dave McGinnis debacle.
Perhaps Trestman won't work out. Perhaps he'll lead the Bears to that elusive Super Bowl championship. For now, I'm happy with the fact that the team seems to finally showing signs of consistent competency in off field matters. Now only if that competency can translate to the field.
*Case in point: Dick Jauron
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
In Defense Of: Arby's
Disclaimer: Neither the author of this post, nor the owners of the blog it is posted on, received any form of compensation for the following content. Frankly, if a large fast food chain is stooping to purchase the content of this blog and its tens of monthly page views, they are probably in a lot of trouble. I can assure you this came to the author while she was enjoying Arby's seasonal special of two fish sandwiches for $5. We felt it prudent to preempt any concerns our faithful commenters may have. Feel free to criticize the gross violation of scope of this post, or our willingness to lump brand names and marketing into the morass that is pop culture.
"I'm so hungry, I could eat at Arby's"
"If I can keep down Arby's, I can keep down you..."
"A possum drowned in the pool. You have any garbage bags?"
"Just throw it over the fence. Let Arby's worry about it."
These are all quotes from The Simpsons. Clearly, someone on the writing staff of the show has a problem with the fast food restaurant chain. Although the jokes are funny in the context of the episodes, I've never understood the hate for Arby's from that show.
Frankly, I've often enjoyed eating there. When they are well made, their Beef and Cheddar sandwiches are probably my favorite fast food sandwich. Occasionally I think of one of their standard roast beef sandwiches with both Arby's and Horsey sauce on it, and my mouth will almost start to water.
Now perhaps my fondness for Arby's comes from my midwestern upbringing. After all, when you have to drive a half hour to get more than one fast food choice, and one of them is Arby's, maybe you learn to love what may very well be subpar foodstuffs. Perhaps the dull midwestern diet of bland dishes made of meat and potatoes makes you appreciate any spiciness, even if it comes in a vague horseradish form. Perhaps it is just nostalgia, warm, happy thoughts of eating roast beef and curly fries after losing another match at the weekly East Central Illinois Chess League contests.
Perhaps the writer(s) had a bad experience at Arby's. Sometimes they aren't the most consistent of restaurants. On more than one occasion they've been out of insignificant things such as roast beef, curly fries, or jamocha shakes. And as much as I love them, Beef and Cheddars can be down right disgusting if not prepared right. Frankly, they've been disappointing enough recently that I've pretty much switched over to the regular roast beef, or the fish sandwiches when they are in season. Perhaps they just need to give the place another shot.
All I know is that after I bit off more than I could chew on the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye trails last December, the roast beef and seasonal peppermint shake from the Arby's in Ellijay, GA helped bring me back from the land of weary hikers. I mean, where else was I going to go, Hardee's? I wasn't THAT desperate*.
*This only applies to Hardee's after breakfast. I'm still not certain why they don't just serve breakfast all day there. Those biscuits are delicious.
"I'm so hungry, I could eat at Arby's"
"If I can keep down Arby's, I can keep down you..."
"A possum drowned in the pool. You have any garbage bags?"
"Just throw it over the fence. Let Arby's worry about it."
These are all quotes from The Simpsons. Clearly, someone on the writing staff of the show has a problem with the fast food restaurant chain. Although the jokes are funny in the context of the episodes, I've never understood the hate for Arby's from that show.
Frankly, I've often enjoyed eating there. When they are well made, their Beef and Cheddar sandwiches are probably my favorite fast food sandwich. Occasionally I think of one of their standard roast beef sandwiches with both Arby's and Horsey sauce on it, and my mouth will almost start to water.
Now perhaps my fondness for Arby's comes from my midwestern upbringing. After all, when you have to drive a half hour to get more than one fast food choice, and one of them is Arby's, maybe you learn to love what may very well be subpar foodstuffs. Perhaps the dull midwestern diet of bland dishes made of meat and potatoes makes you appreciate any spiciness, even if it comes in a vague horseradish form. Perhaps it is just nostalgia, warm, happy thoughts of eating roast beef and curly fries after losing another match at the weekly East Central Illinois Chess League contests.
Perhaps the writer(s) had a bad experience at Arby's. Sometimes they aren't the most consistent of restaurants. On more than one occasion they've been out of insignificant things such as roast beef, curly fries, or jamocha shakes. And as much as I love them, Beef and Cheddars can be down right disgusting if not prepared right. Frankly, they've been disappointing enough recently that I've pretty much switched over to the regular roast beef, or the fish sandwiches when they are in season. Perhaps they just need to give the place another shot.
All I know is that after I bit off more than I could chew on the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye trails last December, the roast beef and seasonal peppermint shake from the Arby's in Ellijay, GA helped bring me back from the land of weary hikers. I mean, where else was I going to go, Hardee's? I wasn't THAT desperate*.
*This only applies to Hardee's after breakfast. I'm still not certain why they don't just serve breakfast all day there. Those biscuits are delicious.
Movies I'd Like to see Made #1: Harding
At the end of each year (well, 2012 and 2010) I write about my favorite movies of the year. I like every movie on those lists, and am looking forward to what's coming in 2013. However, I have a list of movie ideas that have yet to be brought forth by any studio, either major or independent, which I will be revealing to you, dear readers, over the next few weeks. I doubt these ideas will see the bright lights of the studio, as they are far too busy creating more sequels to comic book movies. Feel free to use any of these ideas, or hire me to write the script. Either way is good.
Harding
Have you seen the box office receipts for Lincoln? That's a lot of money for a historical film. Of course, now that we've seen a film starring our greatest President, it's appropriate we get one about one of our worst. Yes, folks, it's time for a picture about Warren G. Harding, the George W. Bush of his time. Relive the glory days of the Teapot Dome scandal, and then lament as President Harding succumbs to congestive heart failure. What's more, it sets up a potential sequel with the swearing in of that talkative fellow Calvin Coolidge. If you really work at it, you can throw Herbert Hoover in for a trilogy, kind of as The Hobbit to the Depression and World War Two's Lord of the Rings.
Harding
Have you seen the box office receipts for Lincoln? That's a lot of money for a historical film. Of course, now that we've seen a film starring our greatest President, it's appropriate we get one about one of our worst. Yes, folks, it's time for a picture about Warren G. Harding, the George W. Bush of his time. Relive the glory days of the Teapot Dome scandal, and then lament as President Harding succumbs to congestive heart failure. What's more, it sets up a potential sequel with the swearing in of that talkative fellow Calvin Coolidge. If you really work at it, you can throw Herbert Hoover in for a trilogy, kind of as The Hobbit to the Depression and World War Two's Lord of the Rings.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Oscar Nominations 2013
It's Oscar time, everybody! Normally, I don't really follow the Oscars - this has been due to a mixture of being busy (college, internships, etc) and thus not making it to the movies a lot and the fact that I rarely care for awards shows in general.
However, looking upon the list of nominees this year, I thought I'd give my two cents since I've broken some sort of personal record and seen like 8 movies in theaters this year. (And yes, spare me the glaring looks...I'm well aware that for someone so in to pop culture I don't seem to get out much.)
The Best Picture category is not a surprise in the least to me, despite the fact I've never heard of Amour. Beasts of the Southern Wild, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, and Silver Linings Playbook are all films I've been wanting to see but, other than knowing they've been getting rave reviews, I don't have a whole lot to say about.
Lincoln has swept the categories this year and I feel no other film is deserving of as many nominations as this picture, which details the struggle of passing the 13th Amendment during the beginning (and, spoilers, end) of President Lincoln's second term in the White House. The film, I think, accomplished the rare blend of being in-depth, poignant, and significantly aware and delicate with the historical events while at the same time making it possible for a viewer unfamiliar with said events to follow along with ease. The film therefore was a historical biopic that was also immensely entertaining (unless, of course, you are the 900 year old woman in the row behind us who fell asleep and was snoring in the middle of the movie).
My major disappointment was that Moonrise Kingdom was only nominated in one category, albeit a major category (in my humble opinion); best original screenplay. I think it has a lot of contention this year but I feel like its major threat is Zero Dark Thirty. The film detailing the events behind Osama bin Laden's compound raid is another one I'd like to see at my earliest convenience, but truth be told as a Parks and Recreation fan I have a hard time with Chris Pratt being anyone other than Andy Dwyer, or, perhaps only slightly more appropriately, Bert Macklin.
I feel as though Brave will probably win Best Animated Feature but, not having seen ParaNorman, I think Wreck-It Ralph is much more deserving of the award. Brave was beautifully done and very entertaining to watch, but oddly enough for a category where Pixar usually sweeps Ralph felt like the more Pixar-ish film of the nominees. And yes, I say that knowing that at this point its basically semantics seeing as Disney-Pixar is practically one in the same now...which isn't a bad thing. What it comes down to is individual teams working on pictures - the writers and directors are really bringing the film to life and everything else is level playing field. By those merits, Ralph came out stronger and felt like a return to form on the whole innovative-but-still-emotionally-touching front. So that's what I mean when I say the non-Pixar Disney film felt more like Pixar than the Pixar film, I guess. And if Paperman doesn't take Best Animated Short I will flip tables. No lie.
Am I a bit disappointed that the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey didn't get more nominations, especially with Howard Shore's beautiful soundtrack? Yes. Am I surprised? Not really. A lot of people couldn't get past the different tone of the film and found fault with the pacing. I understand those complaints, but the film was beautiful and faithful enough to have deserved at least Best Adapted Screenplay. It did take a nomination in Best Visual Effects, so I can be happy with that...albeit Snow White and the Huntsman also took a nomination there, so...
On the other hand, it shares a category with its only true contender, Marvel's the Avengers. I know, I know, Summer Blockbusters have no place on Oscar lists, but I cannot express how much I love this movie. I'm a complete Marvel fangirl to begin with, but Joss Whedon (my geeky overlord) deserved a spot for Best Adapted Screenplay or Best Direction. Because he's Joss-Friggin-Whedon and he deserves ALL the awards, and the Avengers was definitely a labor of love for him. If loving your work was criteria for awards, though, I'm sure the ceremony would run several hours longer.
I'm not sure how I feel about Adele's song from Skyfall being nominated for Best Original Song. I mean, I understand the politics behind it - she's Adele and the music industry it-girl, and it's a James Bond movie so duh, but the song wasn't good enough to win this category...so, for the sake of bluntness, I hope it doesn't. Then again, I'm just not a big James Bond song person. They all sound so cheesy and horrible to me. Except the Wings' "Live and Let Die". I love that song...and that probably says a lot about me.
Other than that, I do believe Skyfall earned the rest of its nominations. This was definitely the most engaging of the James Bond films of my lifetime and the cinematography played a large role in it. The film was brilliantly shot, and I guess the sound editing and mixing were good, too...I can't really say I pay attention to a film and say "wow! that sound editing is GENIUS!" but I wouldn't be too surprised if it was. I'm sure there's some politics involved where the sound categories can be seen as ones that have to be recognized (or the sound engineers union would pitch a fit), but hey, a nomination is a nomination.
So, as always, I may add to this list of observations at a later time, but right now Return of the King is on tv and, you know, priorities. What were your favorite movies of the year? What are your thoughts about the nominations? Let us know in the comments, on twitter, or on facebook!
However, looking upon the list of nominees this year, I thought I'd give my two cents since I've broken some sort of personal record and seen like 8 movies in theaters this year. (And yes, spare me the glaring looks...I'm well aware that for someone so in to pop culture I don't seem to get out much.)
The Best Picture category is not a surprise in the least to me, despite the fact I've never heard of Amour. Beasts of the Southern Wild, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, and Silver Linings Playbook are all films I've been wanting to see but, other than knowing they've been getting rave reviews, I don't have a whole lot to say about.
Lincoln has swept the categories this year and I feel no other film is deserving of as many nominations as this picture, which details the struggle of passing the 13th Amendment during the beginning (and, spoilers, end) of President Lincoln's second term in the White House. The film, I think, accomplished the rare blend of being in-depth, poignant, and significantly aware and delicate with the historical events while at the same time making it possible for a viewer unfamiliar with said events to follow along with ease. The film therefore was a historical biopic that was also immensely entertaining (unless, of course, you are the 900 year old woman in the row behind us who fell asleep and was snoring in the middle of the movie).
My major disappointment was that Moonrise Kingdom was only nominated in one category, albeit a major category (in my humble opinion); best original screenplay. I think it has a lot of contention this year but I feel like its major threat is Zero Dark Thirty. The film detailing the events behind Osama bin Laden's compound raid is another one I'd like to see at my earliest convenience, but truth be told as a Parks and Recreation fan I have a hard time with Chris Pratt being anyone other than Andy Dwyer, or, perhaps only slightly more appropriately, Bert Macklin.
I feel as though Brave will probably win Best Animated Feature but, not having seen ParaNorman, I think Wreck-It Ralph is much more deserving of the award. Brave was beautifully done and very entertaining to watch, but oddly enough for a category where Pixar usually sweeps Ralph felt like the more Pixar-ish film of the nominees. And yes, I say that knowing that at this point its basically semantics seeing as Disney-Pixar is practically one in the same now...which isn't a bad thing. What it comes down to is individual teams working on pictures - the writers and directors are really bringing the film to life and everything else is level playing field. By those merits, Ralph came out stronger and felt like a return to form on the whole innovative-but-still-emotionally-touching front. So that's what I mean when I say the non-Pixar Disney film felt more like Pixar than the Pixar film, I guess. And if Paperman doesn't take Best Animated Short I will flip tables. No lie.
Am I a bit disappointed that the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey didn't get more nominations, especially with Howard Shore's beautiful soundtrack? Yes. Am I surprised? Not really. A lot of people couldn't get past the different tone of the film and found fault with the pacing. I understand those complaints, but the film was beautiful and faithful enough to have deserved at least Best Adapted Screenplay. It did take a nomination in Best Visual Effects, so I can be happy with that...albeit Snow White and the Huntsman also took a nomination there, so...
On the other hand, it shares a category with its only true contender, Marvel's the Avengers. I know, I know, Summer Blockbusters have no place on Oscar lists, but I cannot express how much I love this movie. I'm a complete Marvel fangirl to begin with, but Joss Whedon (my geeky overlord) deserved a spot for Best Adapted Screenplay or Best Direction. Because he's Joss-Friggin-Whedon and he deserves ALL the awards, and the Avengers was definitely a labor of love for him. If loving your work was criteria for awards, though, I'm sure the ceremony would run several hours longer.
I'm not sure how I feel about Adele's song from Skyfall being nominated for Best Original Song. I mean, I understand the politics behind it - she's Adele and the music industry it-girl, and it's a James Bond movie so duh, but the song wasn't good enough to win this category...so, for the sake of bluntness, I hope it doesn't. Then again, I'm just not a big James Bond song person. They all sound so cheesy and horrible to me. Except the Wings' "Live and Let Die". I love that song...and that probably says a lot about me.
Other than that, I do believe Skyfall earned the rest of its nominations. This was definitely the most engaging of the James Bond films of my lifetime and the cinematography played a large role in it. The film was brilliantly shot, and I guess the sound editing and mixing were good, too...I can't really say I pay attention to a film and say "wow! that sound editing is GENIUS!" but I wouldn't be too surprised if it was. I'm sure there's some politics involved where the sound categories can be seen as ones that have to be recognized (or the sound engineers union would pitch a fit), but hey, a nomination is a nomination.
So, as always, I may add to this list of observations at a later time, but right now Return of the King is on tv and, you know, priorities. What were your favorite movies of the year? What are your thoughts about the nominations? Let us know in the comments, on twitter, or on facebook!
Looking Ahead in 2013: Television
For several of my favorite shows, 2013 will be a year of goodbyes. 30 Rock will be wrapping up in a few weeks, while The Office will end its run in May. Odds are this will be the final lap for Community as well. And of course, later this year we'll be getting the last eight episodes of Breaking Bad. For a while at least my viewing mix will get a bit smaller.
However, for many other shows it will be business as usual, and one show will be coming back, this time in Netflix form! Starting here in early January, and going on throughout the rest of the year it'll be an interesting ride.
The show I am looking forward the most to is Game of Thrones, which will begin it's third season on March 31. I've read all of the books that currently are out there, and have watched both seasons of the TV show, and I'm really excited. Sure, A Storm of Swords is split between two seasons, but that is because it is the most action filled of the books. I'm curious exactly what we'll be seeing in the season, and how they'll have to change it around to fit the constraints of television. Apparently they've added extra minutes to each episode, so there will almost be eleven episodes, once you consider the sum total of running time. I'm especially curious to see where they'll cut off the episode. I've got my theory of what will be the end of the tenth episode, although I wouldn't be surprised if that ends up at the end of episode nine, considering how they've done the first two seasons.
Of course, Game of Thrones is not the only HBO show I'm looking forward to seeing come back. Enlightened and Girls are coming back this month, and The Newsroom comes back in June, warts and all. Also at some point Veep may be coming back, so that's good.
Outside the world of HBO, another thing I'm cautiously looking forward to is the return of Arrested Development, as it makes its Netflix exclusive debut later this year. Perhaps it will be a disappointment, an affirmation that sometimes the end of a series isn't a bad thing. Hopefully it won't be, and will be something worth watching.
As for shows that aren't yet ending, but aren't beginning (or are not on HBO), there is a lot to look forward to. Archer premieres a week from today, the same day as Parks and Recreation comes back from the holiday break*. Mad Men will build upon it's great season five, coming back sometime later this year. Futurama will be starting the back half of season seven this summer. Although not as great as it's initial run, the show is still good for many good episodes, and a couple great ones each season.
It's too early to tell what new series might show up next Fall, at least in regards to the usual broadcast networks. As it stands, I've not followed any of the shows that premiered last fall, and only occasionally watch ones such as New Girl that are in their second season. Part of it is because the new shows are rather dire, but part is there is just too much good TV to watch. Especially since It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The West Wing are on Netlix now. Man, I need to really catch up on Bob's Burgers. You know what, I'll get back to you in...oh...December.
*Hmmm...do you think there might be a regular Thursday night wrap-up feature starting in a week? Perhaps.
However, for many other shows it will be business as usual, and one show will be coming back, this time in Netflix form! Starting here in early January, and going on throughout the rest of the year it'll be an interesting ride.
The show I am looking forward the most to is Game of Thrones, which will begin it's third season on March 31. I've read all of the books that currently are out there, and have watched both seasons of the TV show, and I'm really excited. Sure, A Storm of Swords is split between two seasons, but that is because it is the most action filled of the books. I'm curious exactly what we'll be seeing in the season, and how they'll have to change it around to fit the constraints of television. Apparently they've added extra minutes to each episode, so there will almost be eleven episodes, once you consider the sum total of running time. I'm especially curious to see where they'll cut off the episode. I've got my theory of what will be the end of the tenth episode, although I wouldn't be surprised if that ends up at the end of episode nine, considering how they've done the first two seasons.
Of course, Game of Thrones is not the only HBO show I'm looking forward to seeing come back. Enlightened and Girls are coming back this month, and The Newsroom comes back in June, warts and all. Also at some point Veep may be coming back, so that's good.
Outside the world of HBO, another thing I'm cautiously looking forward to is the return of Arrested Development, as it makes its Netflix exclusive debut later this year. Perhaps it will be a disappointment, an affirmation that sometimes the end of a series isn't a bad thing. Hopefully it won't be, and will be something worth watching.
As for shows that aren't yet ending, but aren't beginning (or are not on HBO), there is a lot to look forward to. Archer premieres a week from today, the same day as Parks and Recreation comes back from the holiday break*. Mad Men will build upon it's great season five, coming back sometime later this year. Futurama will be starting the back half of season seven this summer. Although not as great as it's initial run, the show is still good for many good episodes, and a couple great ones each season.
It's too early to tell what new series might show up next Fall, at least in regards to the usual broadcast networks. As it stands, I've not followed any of the shows that premiered last fall, and only occasionally watch ones such as New Girl that are in their second season. Part of it is because the new shows are rather dire, but part is there is just too much good TV to watch. Especially since It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The West Wing are on Netlix now. Man, I need to really catch up on Bob's Burgers. You know what, I'll get back to you in...oh...December.
*Hmmm...do you think there might be a regular Thursday night wrap-up feature starting in a week? Perhaps.
Monday, January 7, 2013
In Defense Of: The West Wing Season Five
There is no accounting for taste. Everyone has a favorite movie or TV show that they like despite the general consensus being otherwise. Sometimes we come to this opinion upon a revisiting, as perhaps our new experiences and perspective opens up new ways to be entertained. Other times we've enjoyed it from the first time we saw it, and we still love it, damnit. We begin with season five of The West Wing, considered the weakest of the entire series.
There is no denying that The West Wing was weaker after Aaron Sorkin left. Even when the show rebounded during the Santos vs. Vinick election storyline, it was still missing something, that "Good Sorkin"* element that seemed to tie together the show so well. This can be best felt in the Zoey Bartlet kidnapping arc, half of which was under Sorkin, half of which was not. "Commencement" and "25" are tight, well written, and balance the drama with the tension really well. The juxtaposition of Toby's joy at the birth of his twins and the President and First Lady going through the utter hell of their daughter being kidnapped is spot on. Although the fourth season had some of the troubles of later seasons, it certainly ended with a bang.
"7A WF 83429" and "The Dogs of War", on the other hand, aren't bad, but they just aren't great. Instead of having that focus on the interpersonal drama surrounding the kidnapping and Bartlet's subsequent temporary recusal from the Presidency, it seemed far more concerned with the political aspects of the situation. That isn't to say there isn't a place for that, just that it wasn't as well balanced. The end of "7A WF 83429" tries to go for the emotion of "Two Cathedrals" or "Commencement", but it just feels overblown. To top it off, the conclusion of the kidnapping just seemed a bit perfunctory, like they forgot they needed to end it and just stuck it in there. They were pretty good television, and would have been great for many shows. But for a show like The West Wing, they just weren't good enough.
The other twenty episodes are about the same. They are nowhere near the awfulness some people seem to claim, but they are also nowhere near the heights of Bartlet's first term. Martin Sheen is great as always as President Bartlet, as is most of the rest of the cast. Season five marks a big step in Donna's development as a character, as she tries to become more than just Josh's faithful assistant.
My two biggest problems with the season are what they did to Leo and Will. In the first four seasons, Leo was the President's right hand man. He was powerful, he was wise, and he was competent. Sure, he often tempered the President's more quixotic side, but he knew when to slow things down, and when to let Bartlet be Bartlet. However, in season five, he becomes Mr. No. I suppose in the early part of the season it was because Bartlet wasn't quite back in the game from Zoey's kidnapping, and his subsequent estrangement from the First Lady. By the end of the season, his attitude veered between reticent gatekeeper and deluded warmonger. I suppose it was done to show the President's growth in self-confidence at being able to do the job, but it just makes Leo look terrible. On top of it all, it sets up what happens at the beginning of season six, the true nadir of the series.**
As for Will, why bring him on to be Sam 2.0 when you turn around and marginalize him by making him Bingo Bob's chief of staff? I suppose they felt it would create "drama" between Toby and Will, and also it would set up the election storyline in later seasons, but that assumes they were thinking that far ahead. Will vs. Josh works fairly well, particularly with Donna in there, but that didn't happen until season six, and Will could have conceivably jumped over to Bingo Bob's campaign a season later.
Those complaints aside, I still enjoyed the season. "Shutdown" and "The Supremes" are two of my favorite episodes, perhaps because the West Wing staff actually accomplishes something. "Han" was a surprisingly good episode, although much more somber than most of my favorite episodes. Finally, the show is astute in showing the dynamics of how dysfunctional the government can be when you have a far right wing Congress mixed with a centrist liberal White House. I was surprised how similar some of the situations were to our current mess.
In the end, I don't think season five deserves the scorn often heaped upon it. True, it had some hard to swallow stuff such as Toby saving Social Security in one day, and it had problems with some of the characters. Sure, none of the new characters in the season made an impact, or even lasted beyond the season***. But it still was The West Wing, which meant it was one of the best dramas on broadcast TV at the time. Now that the entire run is up on Netflix, I suggest you give it a shot if you've never seen it, or a second chance if you have.
*To me, Aaron Sorkin has two sides to his writing. Good Sorkin is some of the best writing found in TV or films. Good Sorkin can be found in movies like The Social Network or most of season two of The West Wing. Bad Sorkin can be absolutely awful. He can be misanthropic, smug, and just downright wrong. For this, see most of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, good portions of The Newsroom, and any time he trolls Internet users in The West Wing.
**Good lord is the first part of season six terrible. Between the hatchet job they do to Bartlet and Leo's relationship and Leo's subsequent heart attack, it's just not good. Only once Santos and Vinick show up does it get better, with "King Corn" and "Freedonia" being the start of a much stronger portion of the season.
***Other than Elizabeth Bartlet, who shows up during the Santos/Vinick arc.
There is no denying that The West Wing was weaker after Aaron Sorkin left. Even when the show rebounded during the Santos vs. Vinick election storyline, it was still missing something, that "Good Sorkin"* element that seemed to tie together the show so well. This can be best felt in the Zoey Bartlet kidnapping arc, half of which was under Sorkin, half of which was not. "Commencement" and "25" are tight, well written, and balance the drama with the tension really well. The juxtaposition of Toby's joy at the birth of his twins and the President and First Lady going through the utter hell of their daughter being kidnapped is spot on. Although the fourth season had some of the troubles of later seasons, it certainly ended with a bang.
"7A WF 83429" and "The Dogs of War", on the other hand, aren't bad, but they just aren't great. Instead of having that focus on the interpersonal drama surrounding the kidnapping and Bartlet's subsequent temporary recusal from the Presidency, it seemed far more concerned with the political aspects of the situation. That isn't to say there isn't a place for that, just that it wasn't as well balanced. The end of "7A WF 83429" tries to go for the emotion of "Two Cathedrals" or "Commencement", but it just feels overblown. To top it off, the conclusion of the kidnapping just seemed a bit perfunctory, like they forgot they needed to end it and just stuck it in there. They were pretty good television, and would have been great for many shows. But for a show like The West Wing, they just weren't good enough.
The other twenty episodes are about the same. They are nowhere near the awfulness some people seem to claim, but they are also nowhere near the heights of Bartlet's first term. Martin Sheen is great as always as President Bartlet, as is most of the rest of the cast. Season five marks a big step in Donna's development as a character, as she tries to become more than just Josh's faithful assistant.
My two biggest problems with the season are what they did to Leo and Will. In the first four seasons, Leo was the President's right hand man. He was powerful, he was wise, and he was competent. Sure, he often tempered the President's more quixotic side, but he knew when to slow things down, and when to let Bartlet be Bartlet. However, in season five, he becomes Mr. No. I suppose in the early part of the season it was because Bartlet wasn't quite back in the game from Zoey's kidnapping, and his subsequent estrangement from the First Lady. By the end of the season, his attitude veered between reticent gatekeeper and deluded warmonger. I suppose it was done to show the President's growth in self-confidence at being able to do the job, but it just makes Leo look terrible. On top of it all, it sets up what happens at the beginning of season six, the true nadir of the series.**
As for Will, why bring him on to be Sam 2.0 when you turn around and marginalize him by making him Bingo Bob's chief of staff? I suppose they felt it would create "drama" between Toby and Will, and also it would set up the election storyline in later seasons, but that assumes they were thinking that far ahead. Will vs. Josh works fairly well, particularly with Donna in there, but that didn't happen until season six, and Will could have conceivably jumped over to Bingo Bob's campaign a season later.
Those complaints aside, I still enjoyed the season. "Shutdown" and "The Supremes" are two of my favorite episodes, perhaps because the West Wing staff actually accomplishes something. "Han" was a surprisingly good episode, although much more somber than most of my favorite episodes. Finally, the show is astute in showing the dynamics of how dysfunctional the government can be when you have a far right wing Congress mixed with a centrist liberal White House. I was surprised how similar some of the situations were to our current mess.
In the end, I don't think season five deserves the scorn often heaped upon it. True, it had some hard to swallow stuff such as Toby saving Social Security in one day, and it had problems with some of the characters. Sure, none of the new characters in the season made an impact, or even lasted beyond the season***. But it still was The West Wing, which meant it was one of the best dramas on broadcast TV at the time. Now that the entire run is up on Netflix, I suggest you give it a shot if you've never seen it, or a second chance if you have.
*To me, Aaron Sorkin has two sides to his writing. Good Sorkin is some of the best writing found in TV or films. Good Sorkin can be found in movies like The Social Network or most of season two of The West Wing. Bad Sorkin can be absolutely awful. He can be misanthropic, smug, and just downright wrong. For this, see most of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, good portions of The Newsroom, and any time he trolls Internet users in The West Wing.
**Good lord is the first part of season six terrible. Between the hatchet job they do to Bartlet and Leo's relationship and Leo's subsequent heart attack, it's just not good. Only once Santos and Vinick show up does it get better, with "King Corn" and "Freedonia" being the start of a much stronger portion of the season.
***Other than Elizabeth Bartlet, who shows up during the Santos/Vinick arc.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Secondary in Name Only: Milhouse Van Houten
I spent a long time \trying to figure out how to start this piece about Milhouse Van Houten, Bart's perpetual sidekick on The Simpsons. I considered going deep into the social hierarchies and niches of Springfield Elementary School. I envisioned going through each layer, from the bullies at the top, all the way down to the perpetual victims like Ralph and Martin Prince. I would have used this to point to where Bart and Milhouse sit, which is somewhere towards the lower middle of the hierarchy. It would have taken several paragraphs, but it would have left you with a very accurate picture of who exactly Milhouse is.
Instead of doing all of that puffed up nonsense about a fictional schoolyard, I found this clip.
Besides giving me one of my favorite quotes, that clip from "Mom and Pop Art" totally shows what kind of character Milhouse is. My work here is done.
...Oh wait, you mean I need to write a bit more? Well, crap.
From that clip, you can tell that Milhouse is both eternally optimistic, choosing to focus on the appropriateness of his pants rather than the disaster of his house flooding and a big dork, as only big dorks would have flood pants. All you need to round out his character is toadying up to Bart and swooning over Lisa.
My favorite episode involving Milhouse likely has to be "Lemon of Troy". I was't able to find my favorite Milhouse clip from the episode, where he imagines his camouflage working much better than it actually does. However, my second favorite Milhouse does have a clip.
I love how angry he gets about the "Shelbyville Milhouse", who clearly is just stealing his personality from Milhouse. Of course, what makes that so much better is how when they finally confront each other, they fight at first, until discovering how similar they each are, and commiserate in their shared troubles.
Another great episode for Milhouse is season seven's "Radioactive Man". In this episode, Milhouse becomes the ultimate sidekick, playing the role of Fallout Boy in the movie version of Radioactive Man. Of course, he ends up hating acting and abandons the set, leading to one of the greatest (often-misquoted) lines of the show ever.
Sure, he's not part of that scene, but it all happens that way because he wasn't there. In the end, in part because Springfield robs the production blind, and in part because Milhouse decides not to act, the movie is a total disaster.
Of course, I could continue going for many more paragraphs about my favorite episodes, showing clips which may or may not have a damn thing to do with Milhouse. But as this is not the "Let's endlessly talk about The Simpsons" feature, I will spare you that.
If the character of Milhouse did not exist, The Simpsons would still be a great show. However, there is little doubt it would be as great as a show as it is if he weren't there. Making a good show great, while not being essential to making it good, is the hallmark of secondary characters. Milhouse fits this idea perfectly.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
2012 in Review: Films
All in all, I thought 2012 was a pretty great year for films. I enjoyed all twenty-one films I saw in the theater, and at least three of the films are likely to be in my all time favorites list. Below is my annual list of my five favorite films, plus a few other notable "awards". As usual, note that this is a list of my favorites, not necessarily the five films I think are technically best.
#5 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Sure, the pacing is slow. Yeah, it's questionable why this is being stretched to multiple movies. And yeah, it's not as great as the Lord of The Rings trilogy. You know what? It was a joy to be back in middle earth, and there were plenty of great moments amongst all of the trekking. As mentioned in my review, this movie gets extra points for all of the hiking and camping.
#4 Lincoln
Without a doubt, the best part of Steven Spielberg's film about the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment by the U.S. House of Representatives are the performances. I was expecting it to be full of historical goodness, and David Strathairn, Tommy Lee Jones, and Daniel Day-Lewis didn't disappoint. What I didn't expect was how funny parts of it would be, most of which is due to James Spader. If only more historical films were this much fun.
#3 Wreck-It Ralph
I have to say I was not sold on this one after watching the trailer for the film. Sure, the support group scene with all of the recognizable villains was fun, but it seemed very played out. How wrong I was, as this much more than its concept of "video game villain gets tired of being bad". I loved how energetic the film was, while never losing heart or a sense of fun. Besides, it's a blast looking for all of the video game references.
#2 The Avengers
This could have been a total mess. Bringing together multiple superheroes is a risky gamble in any situation, but putting together ones as beloved as Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, and Captain America added a special layer of potential disappointment. Fortunately, Marvel made the inspired choice of Joss Whedon. He was able balance all of the oversized characters, while keeping the story moving and fun. The Avengers showed that comic book movies don't have to be "gritty" to be good, and it can be fun to root for the good guys.
#1 Moonrise Kingdom
Growing up can be hard even for the kids who fit in. For those who don't fit in, it can be almost Sisyphean. And even when you do finally become an adult, it doesn't mean things get any better. Sometimes, the only way to deal with it is find somebody to run away from all the crap with you. Still, it helps to have people looking out for you. This was my favorite Wes Anderson film since The Royal Tenenbaums, and yeah, part of that is because of the hiking.
Needs a 2nd Viewing: The Master
I wasn't able to put this any place on my list, as I'm not entirely sure what I think of it. I enjoyed Joaquin Phoenix's performance, and Philip Seymour Hoffman was great as an L. Ron Hubbard surrogate. P.T. Anderson is one of my favorite directors, and the movie is very well shot. It's just...I don't know, it didn't reach me as much as some of the other movies on this list. I think it might take me another shot before I can be quite sure where I stand on this.
Biggest Surprise: The Campaign
The trailers for this film made it look like total pug crap. And yea, the stuff that looked stupid in the trailers was stupid, but it was just a fraction of the film. The rest of the film was a fairly funny, sometimes poignant exploration of a modern Congressional campaign. I suppose I should have had more faith in Zach Galifianakis.
Easy A award for film I Wanted to See in Theater, but Didn't Get A Chance: Django Unchained and Looper (tie)
Unfortunately I wasn't able to see all of the films I wanted to this year. I may yet get out to the theater to see Tarantino's latest film, but for Looper I'll have to wait until it's out on DVD.
Honorable Mentions: Flight, This is 40, The Dark Knight Rises, Skyfall, Argo, Brave
Best Expected Performances: Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) and Joaquin Phoenix (The Master)
Best Unexpected Performance: James Spader (Lincoln)
Best Performance with an Intentional or Unintentional Bad Wig: Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln)
#5 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Sure, the pacing is slow. Yeah, it's questionable why this is being stretched to multiple movies. And yeah, it's not as great as the Lord of The Rings trilogy. You know what? It was a joy to be back in middle earth, and there were plenty of great moments amongst all of the trekking. As mentioned in my review, this movie gets extra points for all of the hiking and camping.
#4 Lincoln
Without a doubt, the best part of Steven Spielberg's film about the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment by the U.S. House of Representatives are the performances. I was expecting it to be full of historical goodness, and David Strathairn, Tommy Lee Jones, and Daniel Day-Lewis didn't disappoint. What I didn't expect was how funny parts of it would be, most of which is due to James Spader. If only more historical films were this much fun.
#3 Wreck-It Ralph
I have to say I was not sold on this one after watching the trailer for the film. Sure, the support group scene with all of the recognizable villains was fun, but it seemed very played out. How wrong I was, as this much more than its concept of "video game villain gets tired of being bad". I loved how energetic the film was, while never losing heart or a sense of fun. Besides, it's a blast looking for all of the video game references.
#2 The Avengers
#1 Moonrise Kingdom
Growing up can be hard even for the kids who fit in. For those who don't fit in, it can be almost Sisyphean. And even when you do finally become an adult, it doesn't mean things get any better. Sometimes, the only way to deal with it is find somebody to run away from all the crap with you. Still, it helps to have people looking out for you. This was my favorite Wes Anderson film since The Royal Tenenbaums, and yeah, part of that is because of the hiking.
Needs a 2nd Viewing: The Master
I wasn't able to put this any place on my list, as I'm not entirely sure what I think of it. I enjoyed Joaquin Phoenix's performance, and Philip Seymour Hoffman was great as an L. Ron Hubbard surrogate. P.T. Anderson is one of my favorite directors, and the movie is very well shot. It's just...I don't know, it didn't reach me as much as some of the other movies on this list. I think it might take me another shot before I can be quite sure where I stand on this.
Biggest Surprise: The Campaign
The trailers for this film made it look like total pug crap. And yea, the stuff that looked stupid in the trailers was stupid, but it was just a fraction of the film. The rest of the film was a fairly funny, sometimes poignant exploration of a modern Congressional campaign. I suppose I should have had more faith in Zach Galifianakis.
Easy A award for film I Wanted to See in Theater, but Didn't Get A Chance: Django Unchained and Looper (tie)
Unfortunately I wasn't able to see all of the films I wanted to this year. I may yet get out to the theater to see Tarantino's latest film, but for Looper I'll have to wait until it's out on DVD.
Honorable Mentions: Flight, This is 40, The Dark Knight Rises, Skyfall, Argo, Brave
Best Expected Performances: Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) and Joaquin Phoenix (The Master)
Best Unexpected Performance: James Spader (Lincoln)
Best Performance with an Intentional or Unintentional Bad Wig: Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln)
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