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.
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