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Awesome astronaut.
Adorable Dharma van spam. I've seen a bunch of top 5 'Glee' performance spams, but agree with none of them and may have to make one. Augh.
Apparently, Trucco will be on 'V'. Is 'V' any good?
Pretty 'Supernatural' icons.
I...really liked this episode. Actually, this one plus the last one...I don't know, I mean, clearly the writers are on crack and there's very little internal logic to the way everybody's behaving, but damn if MBV wasn't fun. The title is the kind of in-joke I like - it's a reference to Jensen's film, but not one directly referenced in the show - and there were a lot of great moments (I love the Cupid, and the lovers who are about to commit suicide's "...now jail, maybe.") I like the way, as in 'Mystery Spot', the episode went from scary to hilarious to pitch black. I loved Jensen and Misha in it, and Famine was terrifying and totally brilliant. So, yes, crack, but my kind of crack, unlike crap like 'Swap Meat'.
Okay, I have to do three movie reviews, two of which I saw a week ago. Oops.
Push
This is another sci-fi movie that seems to have been overlooked. It's about a group of people with very specific special abilities, such as telekenesis, psychic abilities, and the ability to put thoughts in people's minds.
I heard a lot of negative press about this movie when it came out, and I can't for the life of me figure out why. It was a little bit jam-packed, and I think it would've worked out better as a TV show - the plot in this movie could sustain half a season, the way TV shows seem to be written these days - but it was a really interesting, engaging mythology. Shooting in Hong Kong separates this movie from the pack. Almost all the actors were really good (I'd like to pretend Camilla Belle doesn't exist, she's awful) and it had a terrific visual style. It definitely could've used some simplifying so the audience would have time to concentrate on some parts of the story, but overall, I really enjoyed it. I'm not going to tell you it's the best movie ever - it isn't - but I thought it was a lot better than some things that are given way more credit. Also, I would never complain about having Chris Evans on my screen in any way, shape or form. That guy should be a way bigger star than he is, he has terrible luck. He's so brain-meltingly hot. He and Dakota Fanning have a great relationship in this movie, and Dakota does a terrific job as a brittle teenager. I've heard it's going to be adapted for TV, which is something I would love to see. It's a shame they won't be able to get most of the cast back (although now that 'Trauma' has been cancelled maybe Cliff Curtis could do it, he's so great), but the story would be a fun one to work with on television. It's kind of like Heroes, but a lot more specific.
Anyway, give it a shot.
3.5 out of 5
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
Otherwise known as Battlestar Galactica: The Porn. Seriously, what's up with all the sex and nudity in this thing? I also think it's kind of a step backwards from the series in terms of how women are portrayed - the women in this film are much more sexualised or victimised than in the series, thanks to the removal/down-playing of characters like Roslin and Starbuck, prostitute!Six, all the female cylons hitting on Cavil, and the aforementioned sex and nudity. Focussing on Cavil meant that 'The Plan' had a similar problem to 'Razor', in that its central character is an essentially unlikeable mass murderer. I don't want to spoil 'The Plan' for anyone, but there is a really disturbing murder in the third act committed by Cavil. Combined with the fact that this is basically a movie without a plot but filling in parts of old episodes of BSG that we didn't see, it means that this is essentially a failure as a movie. Still, it is Battlestar, and as a result we get some really amazing stuff from the Cylon point of view, as well as a bit of a fleshing out of characters such as 'the token black Cylon' that gives us greater insight into what the Cylons wanted and how it all fell apart. I like the message about learning and adapting that the movie sends, although it's really just an expansion of themes in BSG. 'Razor' was better, though. Also, needs more Helo.
2.5 out of 5
Random note: the two kids who have played wee!Sam Winchester on Supernatural each starred in one of the aforementioned movies. How trippy is that?
The Forbidden Kingdom
Saw this one tonight, it's kind of a silly kung fu/kid's adventure movie that doesn't entirely work as a kind of retelling of 'The Wizard of Oz' (I literally said "Scarecrow, I think I'll miss you most of all!" to the screen towards the end. "And you were there, and you..." Also, there was a Neverending Story vibe.) It doesn't spend enough time on the central character before he gets sucked into the mystical fantasy world for him to really connect, so he has his work cut out for him once we are dumped in the action. The movie evens out a bit in the middle, with one too many fight scenes (we KNOW they're good, but really, character development please!) in gorgeous locations shot very nicely. They just start to feel redundant. Still, I always find Jackie Chan enormously likeable, and Jet Li gets to spend some time playing the Monkey King, who is a more whimsical character than we normally see from the very serious Li. Chan and Li are great together, so much so that they draw focus from the weak main character and love story. Also, the female baddie is kickass, I was totally rooting for her. The main baddie is pretty boring. It's not a total waste of time, and kids of 10 and up would probably enjoy the kung fu stuff, but it's not great either.
2.5 out of 5
TWEET @jellybeansoup WITH REASONS TO READ HARRY POTTER!
Matron of mystical mumbo-jumbo
Green Queen
Adorable Dharma van spam. I've seen a bunch of top 5 'Glee' performance spams, but agree with none of them and may have to make one. Augh.
Apparently, Trucco will be on 'V'. Is 'V' any good?
Pretty 'Supernatural' icons.
I...really liked this episode. Actually, this one plus the last one...I don't know, I mean, clearly the writers are on crack and there's very little internal logic to the way everybody's behaving, but damn if MBV wasn't fun. The title is the kind of in-joke I like - it's a reference to Jensen's film, but not one directly referenced in the show - and there were a lot of great moments (I love the Cupid, and the lovers who are about to commit suicide's "...now jail, maybe.") I like the way, as in 'Mystery Spot', the episode went from scary to hilarious to pitch black. I loved Jensen and Misha in it, and Famine was terrifying and totally brilliant. So, yes, crack, but my kind of crack, unlike crap like 'Swap Meat'.
Okay, I have to do three movie reviews, two of which I saw a week ago. Oops.
Push
This is another sci-fi movie that seems to have been overlooked. It's about a group of people with very specific special abilities, such as telekenesis, psychic abilities, and the ability to put thoughts in people's minds.
I heard a lot of negative press about this movie when it came out, and I can't for the life of me figure out why. It was a little bit jam-packed, and I think it would've worked out better as a TV show - the plot in this movie could sustain half a season, the way TV shows seem to be written these days - but it was a really interesting, engaging mythology. Shooting in Hong Kong separates this movie from the pack. Almost all the actors were really good (I'd like to pretend Camilla Belle doesn't exist, she's awful) and it had a terrific visual style. It definitely could've used some simplifying so the audience would have time to concentrate on some parts of the story, but overall, I really enjoyed it. I'm not going to tell you it's the best movie ever - it isn't - but I thought it was a lot better than some things that are given way more credit. Also, I would never complain about having Chris Evans on my screen in any way, shape or form. That guy should be a way bigger star than he is, he has terrible luck. He's so brain-meltingly hot. He and Dakota Fanning have a great relationship in this movie, and Dakota does a terrific job as a brittle teenager. I've heard it's going to be adapted for TV, which is something I would love to see. It's a shame they won't be able to get most of the cast back (although now that 'Trauma' has been cancelled maybe Cliff Curtis could do it, he's so great), but the story would be a fun one to work with on television. It's kind of like Heroes, but a lot more specific.
Anyway, give it a shot.
3.5 out of 5
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
Otherwise known as Battlestar Galactica: The Porn. Seriously, what's up with all the sex and nudity in this thing? I also think it's kind of a step backwards from the series in terms of how women are portrayed - the women in this film are much more sexualised or victimised than in the series, thanks to the removal/down-playing of characters like Roslin and Starbuck, prostitute!Six, all the female cylons hitting on Cavil, and the aforementioned sex and nudity. Focussing on Cavil meant that 'The Plan' had a similar problem to 'Razor', in that its central character is an essentially unlikeable mass murderer. I don't want to spoil 'The Plan' for anyone, but there is a really disturbing murder in the third act committed by Cavil. Combined with the fact that this is basically a movie without a plot but filling in parts of old episodes of BSG that we didn't see, it means that this is essentially a failure as a movie. Still, it is Battlestar, and as a result we get some really amazing stuff from the Cylon point of view, as well as a bit of a fleshing out of characters such as 'the token black Cylon' that gives us greater insight into what the Cylons wanted and how it all fell apart. I like the message about learning and adapting that the movie sends, although it's really just an expansion of themes in BSG. 'Razor' was better, though. Also, needs more Helo.
2.5 out of 5
Random note: the two kids who have played wee!Sam Winchester on Supernatural each starred in one of the aforementioned movies. How trippy is that?
The Forbidden Kingdom
Saw this one tonight, it's kind of a silly kung fu/kid's adventure movie that doesn't entirely work as a kind of retelling of 'The Wizard of Oz' (I literally said "Scarecrow, I think I'll miss you most of all!" to the screen towards the end. "And you were there, and you..." Also, there was a Neverending Story vibe.) It doesn't spend enough time on the central character before he gets sucked into the mystical fantasy world for him to really connect, so he has his work cut out for him once we are dumped in the action. The movie evens out a bit in the middle, with one too many fight scenes (we KNOW they're good, but really, character development please!) in gorgeous locations shot very nicely. They just start to feel redundant. Still, I always find Jackie Chan enormously likeable, and Jet Li gets to spend some time playing the Monkey King, who is a more whimsical character than we normally see from the very serious Li. Chan and Li are great together, so much so that they draw focus from the weak main character and love story. Also, the female baddie is kickass, I was totally rooting for her. The main baddie is pretty boring. It's not a total waste of time, and kids of 10 and up would probably enjoy the kung fu stuff, but it's not great either.
2.5 out of 5
TWEET @jellybeansoup WITH REASONS TO READ HARRY POTTER!
Matron of mystical mumbo-jumbo
Green Queen
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haha. See, that's exactly why I want to make top 5s but at the same time - that's why I don't. I feel like I could never actually pick just 5. But you know what, I just might do some since there's a challenge - all Sondheim-related probably. :)
But what I'm saying is they could easily put songs in the show without putting them on a stage with complex lighting cues. I mean, light cues take hours! When I first heard about this show, I was all "OMG this was exactly what I wanted to do for a show. Just show kids hanging out and doing impromptu musical numbers with one another and practicing in class, at home, etc. etc." A year ago, during one of show rehearsals THIS HAPPENED. :) And I just think the show would benefit so much from doing stuff like this. You incorporate stories more and a lot easier I just think the show overdoes a lot of things. And the writing needs to improve, of course. lol And it wouldn't be that difficult! I feel like the writers don't think about what they're writing. They're just like "Um, have this dramatic moment take place and then AWESOME MUSICAL NUMBER." The show almost always feels half-assed to me.
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Hmm. I don't know, I think a lot of the things that cause those problems are bigger than that. They have to shoot everything and record everything separately, to start with, so that when it ISN'T on stage it sounds very fake. We've also got to keep in mind that the first 13 episodes were all shot together, without any feedback, so they must have had a certain structure. Also, I think of the show as more like a cartoon than the kind of realistic shows we are used to - the way the kids tend to wear the same thing all the time, exaggerated characteristics, things like that. I'm tired of defending Glee, actually. It's not all that badly written, it's just done very differently to what we expect. It could benefit from tightening up, but it's only 13 episodes old - look at the first few episodes of Buffy!
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I think I'm disappointed that a musical-ish show finally came along and I can't get behind it because of the lazy writing. So many conversations between the characters have made me cringe. The show has had its good moments, but they're too far and few between, IMO. And otherwise, even if I put down my criticisms, I just don't enjoy it as much I should. I mean, people are singing!! I enjoy that! But somehow this has made it not enjoyable for me. But I keep watching hoping it'll change. And I'd love to see it do so in the second half.
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