I wasn't watching as closely as last time, so I may miss some details.
Synopsis:
Claire continues her quest to be a popular girl and fit in, in spite of her friend's urging to embrace her powers. At a bonfire/rally, she hooks up with a boy she likes and leaves the party. He comes on to her, but when she asks him to stop, he becomes suddenly insistent and then violent. They struggle and he hits her head on a sharp object that penetrates her skull. She is still and seems dead. Later, she wakes on an autopsy table after the object is removed from her skull. In a very gross and intense moment she finds herself flayed open. (This was pretty horrific)
Mohinder can't make any sense of his father's program and in frustration throws his computer, breaking it open and discovering a book concealed inside with a key. This leads him to Silar's (apparent) apartment, the walls of which are covered with Silar's rantings ("I am sinner" etc.) and a map like the one on his father's wall. Mohinder leads the police there later, but the place is empty and the walls have been painted over.
Niki takes her son to her mother-in-law's house. They fight. The mother-in-law wants to keep Niki's son, Noah, and tells her she can't stop her from seeing him. Niki tells her about the body she found in the desert; it was wearing a ring that she recognized as being worn by her husband's "crew" and Niki believes this is proof that he is guilty. Both her mother-in-law and Noah believe he is innocent and will continue to evade the authorities.
Matt is being questioned by an FBI agent and he tells her the truth, that he can hear people's thoughts. She taunts him, asking him to tell her what she's thinking now. At first, he hears nothing and then hears her worries about being taken seriously. He tells her that no one takes him seriously either. She is surprised and decides to trust him, asking him to talk to the little girl he rescued. Although reluctant at first, he agrees to help. The girl is in protective custody, but when they reach her, they hear her screaming and see a hooded man carrying her away. They chase him down an alley, where he drops the girl. The FBI agent points her gun at him, but he uses an apparent mental powers to shove her away and make her point her gun at her own temple. Matt catches up and empties his gun into the Hooded Man (Sylar?). He drops, but when Matt turns his back, he gets up and disappears.
Matt gets home later and finds his wife in an angry state; he missed a therapy session and she is hurt by what she interprets as thoughtlessness and hostility from him. Hearing her thoughts that she wants him to leave, he does so and winds up at a bar. He can clearly hear all of the thoughts around him, the dispair of those around him depresses him. Looking around the bar, his eyes settle on a man who seems to be watching him. From him, Matt hears no thoughts, only complete silence. He passes out.
Hiro brings the comic book from the future to show his friend as proof. At first, his friend is skeptical, but Hiro decides to try to prove his powers to him, by following the actions in the comic book. According to the book, he is supposed to save a little girl from being hit by a truck. He finds the girl at the last second and uses his time-stopping power to stop the truck and pull her out of harm's way. His friend can no longer deny his power and agrees to come with him to New York to find the artist.
Simone fights with Isaac over his drug use. He claims to need it in order to see the future and she, out of fear for his life, has flushed his stash. She refuses to believe that his paintings show the future (including one that shows a nuclear bomb going off in New York). Later she runs into Peter who tells her he is quitting his job. She is truly disappointed that she won't see him, but he tells her they will run into each other again.
At his brother's fundraiser, he does see Simone again. Nathan talks to the press about his brother's hospitalization; he tells them about his father's depression and suicide and announces that Peter is also depressed and tried to commit suicide. Peter is enraged and embarrassed; he confronts his brother after the party and slugs him for lying and betraying him. Afterwards, he sees Simone and tells her it isn't true, that he isn't depressed and didn't try to commit suicide. They kiss.
Isaac looks over his drawings and finds a picture of Simone and Peter kissing under an umbrella in the rain.
Thoughts: A good episode, even if I was distracted. Lots of mysteries still unexplained - is Sylar behind the killings and why? Was the Hooded Man really Sylar? Who is the Bald Man who can guard his thoughts from Matt?
The special effects were particularly striking this episode, too. Hiro's time-stop power looks particularly awesome, especially with the girl caught mid-jump. Claire's autopsy was pretty gross, but the scene does show a weakness to her power - an object can impede her rejuvenation power if left inside her long enough. My favorite scene was probably the most lo-tech: after the noise of the thoughts around Matt, the silence around the Bald Man made the hairs on my neck stand up.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Monday, October 9, 2006
Commercials
Let's talk a minute about TV commercials, shall we?
I appreciate them. No really, I do. I don't always watch them and yes, they do annoy me (such as when the robot that controls when commercials are aired decides to show the same 3 commercials every break during an hour long program). But you have to admire the artistry that goes into them. Think about how difficult of a job it is to create a TV commercial; you have to hold people's attention and get them to make a decision about your product or service in less than 30 seconds. Oh, and did I mention that most of your audience hates what you are doing and will either change the channel, leave the room or hit the fastforward button while your hardworks gets its half-minute of fame?
What makes a good commercial? It's attention grabbing for one thing. Friends of mine have heard me rave about the Jetta commercials that show actual collisions. Sometimes a commercial has to be a little weird, such as the one featuring Abe Lincoln and a beaver. And a good sense of humor is a must. The commercials of Thomas Richter have all three: they are strange, funny, a little bit uncomfortable at times, but never boring:
http://www.thomasrichter.net/
I appreciate them. No really, I do. I don't always watch them and yes, they do annoy me (such as when the robot that controls when commercials are aired decides to show the same 3 commercials every break during an hour long program). But you have to admire the artistry that goes into them. Think about how difficult of a job it is to create a TV commercial; you have to hold people's attention and get them to make a decision about your product or service in less than 30 seconds. Oh, and did I mention that most of your audience hates what you are doing and will either change the channel, leave the room or hit the fastforward button while your hardworks gets its half-minute of fame?
What makes a good commercial? It's attention grabbing for one thing. Friends of mine have heard me rave about the Jetta commercials that show actual collisions. Sometimes a commercial has to be a little weird, such as the one featuring Abe Lincoln and a beaver. And a good sense of humor is a must. The commercials of Thomas Richter have all three: they are strange, funny, a little bit uncomfortable at times, but never boring:
http://www.thomasrichter.net/
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Lost: Season Three, Episode One
First, great opening, although I suspected from the beginning that we were looking at the Others' camp. I liked how normal it all looked, especially with the bungalows, the middle-class-nice furniture and book club.
This episode is also a bit scary for me, because they are essentially torturing/brainwashing Jack, Kate and Sawyer. There's a neatness to how they tailor their methods to the person. Jack is held in solitude and darkness and being perhaps the most stubborn and rebellious of the three, he has to be broken in a bunch of little ways (like making him put his back to the wall when they bring food in). For Kate, it's a kind of humilation - she's strong and capable and something of a tomboy, so making her wear a dress is a painful reminder that they can make her feel vulnerable. And putting Sawyer in an animal cage is a pretty strong statement, even if he doesn't get that yet. I also think it's very telling that they put Kate in the cage outside of Sawyer's; they realized immediately she is closer to him than Jack and I think they're going to exploit that to its fullest.
Some other tantalizing details: I think there is a power struggle between Ben and the blonde woman (did we ever get her name? - EDIT: Yes, Juliet!). I think the woman is the leader or has assumed leadership, especially since last season the others deferred to a mysterious "she." I'm also not sure how much her heart is into the operation: there's something about her interactions with Ben that makes me think she doesn't approve of him.
But having said that, I really hope the story picks up. Intriguing as this episode was, the few little clues and answers we got just weren't enough. We need to see what's going on with the other castaways and what happened to Locke, Eko and Desmond, and I hope they don't drag out the resolution of that storyline too long.
This episode is also a bit scary for me, because they are essentially torturing/brainwashing Jack, Kate and Sawyer. There's a neatness to how they tailor their methods to the person. Jack is held in solitude and darkness and being perhaps the most stubborn and rebellious of the three, he has to be broken in a bunch of little ways (like making him put his back to the wall when they bring food in). For Kate, it's a kind of humilation - she's strong and capable and something of a tomboy, so making her wear a dress is a painful reminder that they can make her feel vulnerable. And putting Sawyer in an animal cage is a pretty strong statement, even if he doesn't get that yet. I also think it's very telling that they put Kate in the cage outside of Sawyer's; they realized immediately she is closer to him than Jack and I think they're going to exploit that to its fullest.
Some other tantalizing details: I think there is a power struggle between Ben and the blonde woman (did we ever get her name? - EDIT: Yes, Juliet!). I think the woman is the leader or has assumed leadership, especially since last season the others deferred to a mysterious "she." I'm also not sure how much her heart is into the operation: there's something about her interactions with Ben that makes me think she doesn't approve of him.
But having said that, I really hope the story picks up. Intriguing as this episode was, the few little clues and answers we got just weren't enough. We need to see what's going on with the other castaways and what happened to Locke, Eko and Desmond, and I hope they don't drag out the resolution of that storyline too long.
Courtesy of my friend, Souvir, here is a site full of amazing digital images. I know "amazing" gets thrown around way too much these days, but take a look at this somewhat disturbing image and tell me that you're not impressed.
Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Well, okay...
So I watched the next episode (from 2 October) of Studio 60 last night.
OK, it was a little better.
But they still talk about Harriet being Christian waaaaaaaaaaay too much for my taste.
Oh, yeah, and it still isn't funny.
OK, it was a little better.
But they still talk about Harriet being Christian waaaaaaaaaaay too much for my taste.
Oh, yeah, and it still isn't funny.
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Why Studio 60 disappoints the hell out of me
Fantastic pilot opening aside, I'm not liking this show much.
Mostly, I'm annoyed with the religion angle. First, I don't think the character of Harriet Hayes is, as the wiki entry states, an "effortlessly sexy", "multi-talented" performer. In fact, I find her intensely unlikeable and not because she is a Christian character. I just think her performance is forced and it is not entirely the actress' fault. She mentions Jesus, her religion and being Christian pretty much every scene she is in. We are constantly hit over the head with this storyline and not even real-life Christians talk about God, Jesus and their religion this much. This character is more than her religion, right? Then show us that - if she is "effortlessly sexy," show us how and it has to be more than just seeing her pretty face. Show us how talented she is and for Jesus's sake, let her be funny!
Also, the dialog that seemed so snappy on The West Wing just seems very out of place here. When, in the second episode, Harriet says to Jeanie "I wish I had your body" and Jeanie replies "I wish I had your talent," I threw up a little. This isn't how people talk. Well, maybe in Hollywood.
No, not even in Hollywood.
While we're at it, can we talk about how unfunny this show is? I get that it is a drama, but it is a drama about a comedy show. And it has funny actors on it! Show us how they write (and really write, not the after scenes where all of the hard work is already done). Show us the actors bombing or doing really well.
Show us the show, dammit!
Mostly, I'm annoyed with the religion angle. First, I don't think the character of Harriet Hayes is, as the wiki entry states, an "effortlessly sexy", "multi-talented" performer. In fact, I find her intensely unlikeable and not because she is a Christian character. I just think her performance is forced and it is not entirely the actress' fault. She mentions Jesus, her religion and being Christian pretty much every scene she is in. We are constantly hit over the head with this storyline and not even real-life Christians talk about God, Jesus and their religion this much. This character is more than her religion, right? Then show us that - if she is "effortlessly sexy," show us how and it has to be more than just seeing her pretty face. Show us how talented she is and for Jesus's sake, let her be funny!
Also, the dialog that seemed so snappy on The West Wing just seems very out of place here. When, in the second episode, Harriet says to Jeanie "I wish I had your body" and Jeanie replies "I wish I had your talent," I threw up a little. This isn't how people talk. Well, maybe in Hollywood.
No, not even in Hollywood.
While we're at it, can we talk about how unfunny this show is? I get that it is a drama, but it is a drama about a comedy show. And it has funny actors on it! Show us how they write (and really write, not the after scenes where all of the hard work is already done). Show us the actors bombing or doing really well.
Show us the show, dammit!
Heroes - Episode 2
Synopsis:
Another girl is jealous of Claire and competes with her in nearly everything. When the sheriff's department shows up looking for the girl who saved the man from the burning train, the other girl takes the credit. Claire lets her, but asks the sheriff how the man is doing. There is an odd accident in which Claire is hit by a football player and breaks her neck (it actually turns all the way around in a nice bit of sickening special effects). Only her friend sees it happen luckily, but unluckily he tells her the videotape of her "exploits" is missing.
A cop who has failed his exam to become a detective stands dejectedly outside a crime scene. Inside, a woman is pinned to a wall with knives, while a man (most likely her husband) has been frozen solid and the top of his head sawed off, his brain removed. The cop hears a little girl's voice begging for someone not to hurt her. Following the voice, he finds her hiding in a closet. The detectives are skeptical about how he was able to find her and accused him of committing the crime in order to "play hero." Without realizing it, he overhears the thoughts of the detectives and tells them that "Silar(spelling?) did it." They are alarmed that he knows the name and the detectives become even more suspicious.
A strange man pretending to be an exterminator breaks into Mohinder's apartment and tries to bug his phone. The man pulls a gun on him and after a short tuffle in the hallway of the building, one of Mohinder's neighbors, a young pretty woman, scares him away with her own pistol. She befriends Mohinder and tells him that she had befriended his father, too, and had spent a lot of time with him. She did not know he was dead and is very upset when Mohinder tells her. She also tells Mohinder that his father told her about his work and the map he used to track "patient zero," someone he suspected as being one of the evolved humans. She finds his father's answering machine and listen to part of a conversation he had with a man named Silar, who was obsessed with Mohinder's father. They seemed to have been working together and had a parting of the ways. Mohinder's father wanted nothing more to do with Silar. Later, they find a flash drive with his father's research on it; he had found a way to find the evolved humans.
In Times Square, Hiro finds a comic book that features himself and his amazing feat of teleportation. Stealing it from the vendor, he looks for the artist, Isaac, and find him dead in his studio - apparently shot and the top of his head and brain removed. Stupidly, Hiro picks up the gun and police find him standing over the body. They question him and he tells the truth, that he teleported here from Tokyo. He tells them to call his friend at work to confirm that he had seen Hiro just yesterday. His co-worker however tells them that Hiro went missing 5 weeks ago. Hiro thinks it is October, but in reality it is the middle of November. Suddenly, there is a flash of light and through the window, a mushroom cloud can be seen. Hiro "wakes" and finds himself back on the subway train in Toyko.
Isaac is confronted by his girlfriend who tells him the paintings and visions mean nothing.
Niki leaves her house to pick up her son and has another blackout that lasts 4 hours. She gets to her friend's house and they have a conversation about Niki's boyfriend/husband/ex-husband who seems to be on the lam. Niki tells her about the incident and she urges her to go to the police or leave. When she returns to her house with them, her garage has been cleaned and the bodies are gone. She finds a set of keys to the red cadillac parked outside her house. The bodies are in the trunk with instructions to follow a map. She does and finds a spot marked by a shovel. She doesn't have to dig long before she finds skeletal remains.
Peter wakes in the hospital and asks his brother what happened. Nathan denies that he flew and tells Peter that he tried to commit suicide. Later their mother reveals their father was depressed and had tried to commit suicide twice before succeeding. She tells Peter that his father had delusions of grandeur and became depressed when they turned out not to be real. Peter worries that he has the same problem as his father and later confronts his brother, again on a rooftop. He threatens to jump. While they argue, Nathan suddenly relents and looks at his brother in wonder. Peter is floating several feet off the ground. Nathan finally admits that they both flew.
Claire confronts her dad, Mr. Glasses, about her birth parents. At first, he is against the idea, then later he tells her that he contacted the adoption agency and started the process for finding her birth parents. Mr. Glasses seems to be a loving father, but sobers and becomes colder as watches the stolen tape of Claire.
Analysis:
First thing - It seems that Nathan wins the election, if we can believe Hiro's time traveling incident!
Second, Mr. Glasses is way over the top evil. I was very glad at first to see how loving he seems when he interacts with Claire, but that seems to be an act. I really hope they give some depth to this character. Also, the shady character of Silar isn't impressing me just yet (especially if he is "just another serial killer"), although I'll give the writers the benefit of the doubt for now.
I'm a bit disappointed my theory is disproved - it seems that both brothers have the gift of flight or possibly something more.
Also, I am somewhat impressed by the horrific scenes of the "lidless" bodies. Besides being pretty gross, they are frightening and intriguing - where did those brains go and what is Silar doing with them (if it is indeed Silar's doing). I'm really surprised this got past the FCC.
Another girl is jealous of Claire and competes with her in nearly everything. When the sheriff's department shows up looking for the girl who saved the man from the burning train, the other girl takes the credit. Claire lets her, but asks the sheriff how the man is doing. There is an odd accident in which Claire is hit by a football player and breaks her neck (it actually turns all the way around in a nice bit of sickening special effects). Only her friend sees it happen luckily, but unluckily he tells her the videotape of her "exploits" is missing.
A cop who has failed his exam to become a detective stands dejectedly outside a crime scene. Inside, a woman is pinned to a wall with knives, while a man (most likely her husband) has been frozen solid and the top of his head sawed off, his brain removed. The cop hears a little girl's voice begging for someone not to hurt her. Following the voice, he finds her hiding in a closet. The detectives are skeptical about how he was able to find her and accused him of committing the crime in order to "play hero." Without realizing it, he overhears the thoughts of the detectives and tells them that "Silar(spelling?) did it." They are alarmed that he knows the name and the detectives become even more suspicious.
A strange man pretending to be an exterminator breaks into Mohinder's apartment and tries to bug his phone. The man pulls a gun on him and after a short tuffle in the hallway of the building, one of Mohinder's neighbors, a young pretty woman, scares him away with her own pistol. She befriends Mohinder and tells him that she had befriended his father, too, and had spent a lot of time with him. She did not know he was dead and is very upset when Mohinder tells her. She also tells Mohinder that his father told her about his work and the map he used to track "patient zero," someone he suspected as being one of the evolved humans. She finds his father's answering machine and listen to part of a conversation he had with a man named Silar, who was obsessed with Mohinder's father. They seemed to have been working together and had a parting of the ways. Mohinder's father wanted nothing more to do with Silar. Later, they find a flash drive with his father's research on it; he had found a way to find the evolved humans.
In Times Square, Hiro finds a comic book that features himself and his amazing feat of teleportation. Stealing it from the vendor, he looks for the artist, Isaac, and find him dead in his studio - apparently shot and the top of his head and brain removed. Stupidly, Hiro picks up the gun and police find him standing over the body. They question him and he tells the truth, that he teleported here from Tokyo. He tells them to call his friend at work to confirm that he had seen Hiro just yesterday. His co-worker however tells them that Hiro went missing 5 weeks ago. Hiro thinks it is October, but in reality it is the middle of November. Suddenly, there is a flash of light and through the window, a mushroom cloud can be seen. Hiro "wakes" and finds himself back on the subway train in Toyko.
Isaac is confronted by his girlfriend who tells him the paintings and visions mean nothing.
Niki leaves her house to pick up her son and has another blackout that lasts 4 hours. She gets to her friend's house and they have a conversation about Niki's boyfriend/husband/ex-husband who seems to be on the lam. Niki tells her about the incident and she urges her to go to the police or leave. When she returns to her house with them, her garage has been cleaned and the bodies are gone. She finds a set of keys to the red cadillac parked outside her house. The bodies are in the trunk with instructions to follow a map. She does and finds a spot marked by a shovel. She doesn't have to dig long before she finds skeletal remains.
Peter wakes in the hospital and asks his brother what happened. Nathan denies that he flew and tells Peter that he tried to commit suicide. Later their mother reveals their father was depressed and had tried to commit suicide twice before succeeding. She tells Peter that his father had delusions of grandeur and became depressed when they turned out not to be real. Peter worries that he has the same problem as his father and later confronts his brother, again on a rooftop. He threatens to jump. While they argue, Nathan suddenly relents and looks at his brother in wonder. Peter is floating several feet off the ground. Nathan finally admits that they both flew.
Claire confronts her dad, Mr. Glasses, about her birth parents. At first, he is against the idea, then later he tells her that he contacted the adoption agency and started the process for finding her birth parents. Mr. Glasses seems to be a loving father, but sobers and becomes colder as watches the stolen tape of Claire.
Analysis:
First thing - It seems that Nathan wins the election, if we can believe Hiro's time traveling incident!
Second, Mr. Glasses is way over the top evil. I was very glad at first to see how loving he seems when he interacts with Claire, but that seems to be an act. I really hope they give some depth to this character. Also, the shady character of Silar isn't impressing me just yet (especially if he is "just another serial killer"), although I'll give the writers the benefit of the doubt for now.
I'm a bit disappointed my theory is disproved - it seems that both brothers have the gift of flight or possibly something more.
Also, I am somewhat impressed by the horrific scenes of the "lidless" bodies. Besides being pretty gross, they are frightening and intriguing - where did those brains go and what is Silar doing with them (if it is indeed Silar's doing). I'm really surprised this got past the FCC.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
...At Least He Made the Trains Run on Time
No, no, this is not a post in defense of dictators. But it is a mean ol' gripe towards the CTA.
Today it took me 2 hours to get to work. No, really, no exaggeration. I am dependent on public transportation because I do not own a car, nor do I want one or could even afford one if I did. The trains have been unbearably slow lately, meaning the last six months. When we first moved to our current place, it took me about 30 minutes to get to work. The distance is about 5 miles, which in the city might as well be 20 miles. Over the last year or so, the length of time has gotten longer and longer. For the last month, it's been about an hour. In the last two weeks, the trains have been so erratic that I have been opting some days to take a cab at $25 a ride just so that I can guarantee when I'll get to work.
The trains have been plagued with problems. The opening of the so-called Pink Line has made things worse by increasing traffic on tracks that are already overused. Meanwhile, the CTA has been trying to renovate so many stations and tracks at once that the trains can't move as quickly through bottleneck areas like the stretch between Belmont and Fullerton. On top of this, there have been more power outages at stations, fires and track damage. And then there is just the sad events like the one that happened today: accidents or worse, people purposely doing harm to themselves by jumping in front of trains.
I honestly don't know what to do. Normally I could switch to a different train line, but all of them are doing poorly. I am considering taking a bus, but I fear that everyone else tired of the trains will be switching to the bus lines and put strain on those as well. Plus, no one can guarantee what traffic is going to be like on Lake Shore Drive on any given day.
If I have to leave the house two hours early just to make it to work on time, I am going to be one angry little person.
Today it took me 2 hours to get to work. No, really, no exaggeration. I am dependent on public transportation because I do not own a car, nor do I want one or could even afford one if I did. The trains have been unbearably slow lately, meaning the last six months. When we first moved to our current place, it took me about 30 minutes to get to work. The distance is about 5 miles, which in the city might as well be 20 miles. Over the last year or so, the length of time has gotten longer and longer. For the last month, it's been about an hour. In the last two weeks, the trains have been so erratic that I have been opting some days to take a cab at $25 a ride just so that I can guarantee when I'll get to work.
The trains have been plagued with problems. The opening of the so-called Pink Line has made things worse by increasing traffic on tracks that are already overused. Meanwhile, the CTA has been trying to renovate so many stations and tracks at once that the trains can't move as quickly through bottleneck areas like the stretch between Belmont and Fullerton. On top of this, there have been more power outages at stations, fires and track damage. And then there is just the sad events like the one that happened today: accidents or worse, people purposely doing harm to themselves by jumping in front of trains.
I honestly don't know what to do. Normally I could switch to a different train line, but all of them are doing poorly. I am considering taking a bus, but I fear that everyone else tired of the trains will be switching to the bus lines and put strain on those as well. Plus, no one can guarantee what traffic is going to be like on Lake Shore Drive on any given day.
If I have to leave the house two hours early just to make it to work on time, I am going to be one angry little person.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Heroes - Episode 1 (pilot)
Heroes
Airs Mondays at 8PM (Central) on NBC
I have to admit I was skeptical about Heroes, a new television show from Tim Kring, a creative force behind "Crossing Jordan." Although I�ll watch Crossing Jordan, it isn�t a great television show and the plot tends to go from one silly episode to the next. And the beginning of the pilot was not auspicious. Mohinder Suresh, a genetics professor teaching in India, learns of his father�s death. In heavy-handed dialogue with a colleague, we learn that:
1. Mohinder�s father was a geneticist with unconventional theories.
2. Because of his theories, he left or was asked to leave academic life.
3. He eventually moved to New York City and became a cab driver.
4. Mohinder believes in his father�s research and is willing to throw away his own career to continue in his footsteps.
This is a pretty standard SciFi convention: a son or daughter of a brilliant but insane and/or radical scientist takes up his or her parent�s (usually a father) research and pursuit of �Forbidden Knowledge.� I realize it�s not original, but it certainly is expedient and gets the viewer immediately into the story.
As an aside, the theory deals with genetics, specifically in evolution. There are theories about evolution that it actually happens in huge leaps, rather than slowly over time. Individuals of a species mutate so significantly that they are fundamentally different from their counterparts. Those with beneficial mutations survive to pass on their genes to their offspring, thus radically altering the evolution of a species. Sound familiar to you comic book geeks? Yes, it�s the same premise used in the X-Men comics.
The story thus far:
Mohinder goes to his father�s apartment and discovers someone has torn it apart looking for his research. He gathers up what he can find, but hears a cellphone ring. A man is still the next room; Mohinder quietly takes what is most important and flees to New York. There he finds his father�s apartment and takes up his occupation of cab driver.
Peter Petrelli is a nurse who is currently taking care of a dying man. Peter has been having dreams that he can fly. He tries to explain this to his brother, Nathan, a politician running for Congress. Nathan is self-centered and egotistical and brushes Peter off as a dreamer. Later Nathan receives a call that their mother has been arrested for shoplifting. Nathan scolds her, but Peter defends her, saying she is lonely and lost since their father died. In spite of Nathan�s coldness towards her, she makes it clear that Nathan is favorite son and berates Peter for his choice of career. Both Nathan and she remind him that Nathan�s shadow is very large, meaning that Peter will always be overshadowed by his more charismatic brother. Peter, however, hero-worships his brother and believes they have some deeper connection.
Peter has fallen for the dying man�s beautiful daughter, Simone, but she is involved with a painter with a drug habit. She visits her boyfriend, Isaac, and finds him distraught and destroying his paintings. She tries to stop him, but he is too agitated and says that they are evil. He shows her one of a bus in flames and tells her he painted it three weeks ago. On the news that day, he saw a picture of the same bus, the target of a bombing in Israel. There are other disturbing pictures, including one of the solar eclipse that will happen later that day. Simone realizes he is going through withdrawal and needs something to calm him and goes to her father�s house to get morphine. She persuades Peter to come with her and they find Isaac unconscious. Peter gives him emergency aid while Simone calls an ambulance. Peter notices that one of the paintings is of a fire being shown on the news right that moment.
Claire Bennet is a popular cheerleader who asks a friend to videotape her falling from an 80 foot drop. Though he is thrilled at her ability to heal nearly instantaneously, she feels like a freak and asks him not to tell anyone. Later, they stumble on a burning factory and she impetuously runs inside (it seems like Claire is determined to destroy herself). She finds a man trapped inside and she rescues him.
Meanwhile a single mother, Niki, works as an online stripper to support her young, gifted son. She notices something that disturbs her, that her reflection in the mirror seems to be a fraction slower or makes faces at her. She has borrowed $25,000 from a loan shark to make a donation to a special school, but is unable to pay the tuition and he is rejected. Niki takes her son to a friend�s house for safety, then goes back to her house to get her things. Unable to get the donation back or make payments on the loan, the shark sends thugs to her house. In a rather horrible scene, the men ask Niki to strip for them and then become violent when she doesn�t perform to their satisfaction. She is knocked unconscious and when she wakes, the house is full of blood. The thugs are dead. In a broken mirror, her reflection puts a finger to its lips, signing to her not to tell anyone.
Hiro, an office worker in Japan, longs to be different. He sits at his desk and wills a clock to stop. It does for 1 second. Hiro rejoices and runs to tell his co-worker the good news. A geek through and through, Hiro talks to his coworker using Star Trek references and explains that he also made the train 14 seconds late this morning. With practice, he hopes to use his power to teleport. His friend is not just skeptical, but also dismisses Hiro as a geek and hopelessly weird. That night over beers, he taunts Hiro and before leaving for the restroom himself, he tells Hiro to use the power to teleport into the women�s washroom. When he gets back, Hiro is being removed by bouncers. As they walk away from the bar, he tells Hiro to be normal.
Mohinder encounters the Man with the Glasses who had been searching his father�s apartment when he gets into Mohinder�s cab. He so spooked by the meeting that Mohinder stops the car and runs away.
Hiro decides one morning to try to teleport. He closes his eyes and concentrates and when opens them, he�s in Times Square in New York.
Peter asks his brother to meet him in an alley. He climbs to the top of the building. Sure he will fly, he jumps. He falls. Suddenly, Nathan rises, flying up to catch his brother and bring him safely to the ground.
After surviving and healing completely from several alarming accidents, Claire asks her mother to tell her who her real parents are. The Man with the Glasses enters their house; he is Claire�s (adoptive?) father.
My thoughts: A good opening episode. All of this would sound trite except that it is actually done well. After the initial dialogue problems, the characters start to sound like real humans, not plot expositions. There are real moments of tension, fear and wonder: Claire resetting her bones after a fall, Niki being menaced by a loan shark�s thugs, Hiro successfully teleporting himself from Tokyo to New York. Sure, the special effects look good, but there are elements to the story that are intriguing. What is the significance of the eclipse? What is the catastrophe Isaac has painted? And how does a comic book called 9th Wonders have to do with all of this?
One prediction � Peter�s power is actually his belief in his brother; that is, his belief and love for his brother gives his brother the ability to fly or other superpowers.
Airs Mondays at 8PM (Central) on NBC
I have to admit I was skeptical about Heroes, a new television show from Tim Kring, a creative force behind "Crossing Jordan." Although I�ll watch Crossing Jordan, it isn�t a great television show and the plot tends to go from one silly episode to the next. And the beginning of the pilot was not auspicious. Mohinder Suresh, a genetics professor teaching in India, learns of his father�s death. In heavy-handed dialogue with a colleague, we learn that:
1. Mohinder�s father was a geneticist with unconventional theories.
2. Because of his theories, he left or was asked to leave academic life.
3. He eventually moved to New York City and became a cab driver.
4. Mohinder believes in his father�s research and is willing to throw away his own career to continue in his footsteps.
This is a pretty standard SciFi convention: a son or daughter of a brilliant but insane and/or radical scientist takes up his or her parent�s (usually a father) research and pursuit of �Forbidden Knowledge.� I realize it�s not original, but it certainly is expedient and gets the viewer immediately into the story.
As an aside, the theory deals with genetics, specifically in evolution. There are theories about evolution that it actually happens in huge leaps, rather than slowly over time. Individuals of a species mutate so significantly that they are fundamentally different from their counterparts. Those with beneficial mutations survive to pass on their genes to their offspring, thus radically altering the evolution of a species. Sound familiar to you comic book geeks? Yes, it�s the same premise used in the X-Men comics.
The story thus far:
Mohinder goes to his father�s apartment and discovers someone has torn it apart looking for his research. He gathers up what he can find, but hears a cellphone ring. A man is still the next room; Mohinder quietly takes what is most important and flees to New York. There he finds his father�s apartment and takes up his occupation of cab driver.
Peter Petrelli is a nurse who is currently taking care of a dying man. Peter has been having dreams that he can fly. He tries to explain this to his brother, Nathan, a politician running for Congress. Nathan is self-centered and egotistical and brushes Peter off as a dreamer. Later Nathan receives a call that their mother has been arrested for shoplifting. Nathan scolds her, but Peter defends her, saying she is lonely and lost since their father died. In spite of Nathan�s coldness towards her, she makes it clear that Nathan is favorite son and berates Peter for his choice of career. Both Nathan and she remind him that Nathan�s shadow is very large, meaning that Peter will always be overshadowed by his more charismatic brother. Peter, however, hero-worships his brother and believes they have some deeper connection.
Peter has fallen for the dying man�s beautiful daughter, Simone, but she is involved with a painter with a drug habit. She visits her boyfriend, Isaac, and finds him distraught and destroying his paintings. She tries to stop him, but he is too agitated and says that they are evil. He shows her one of a bus in flames and tells her he painted it three weeks ago. On the news that day, he saw a picture of the same bus, the target of a bombing in Israel. There are other disturbing pictures, including one of the solar eclipse that will happen later that day. Simone realizes he is going through withdrawal and needs something to calm him and goes to her father�s house to get morphine. She persuades Peter to come with her and they find Isaac unconscious. Peter gives him emergency aid while Simone calls an ambulance. Peter notices that one of the paintings is of a fire being shown on the news right that moment.
Claire Bennet is a popular cheerleader who asks a friend to videotape her falling from an 80 foot drop. Though he is thrilled at her ability to heal nearly instantaneously, she feels like a freak and asks him not to tell anyone. Later, they stumble on a burning factory and she impetuously runs inside (it seems like Claire is determined to destroy herself). She finds a man trapped inside and she rescues him.
Meanwhile a single mother, Niki, works as an online stripper to support her young, gifted son. She notices something that disturbs her, that her reflection in the mirror seems to be a fraction slower or makes faces at her. She has borrowed $25,000 from a loan shark to make a donation to a special school, but is unable to pay the tuition and he is rejected. Niki takes her son to a friend�s house for safety, then goes back to her house to get her things. Unable to get the donation back or make payments on the loan, the shark sends thugs to her house. In a rather horrible scene, the men ask Niki to strip for them and then become violent when she doesn�t perform to their satisfaction. She is knocked unconscious and when she wakes, the house is full of blood. The thugs are dead. In a broken mirror, her reflection puts a finger to its lips, signing to her not to tell anyone.
Hiro, an office worker in Japan, longs to be different. He sits at his desk and wills a clock to stop. It does for 1 second. Hiro rejoices and runs to tell his co-worker the good news. A geek through and through, Hiro talks to his coworker using Star Trek references and explains that he also made the train 14 seconds late this morning. With practice, he hopes to use his power to teleport. His friend is not just skeptical, but also dismisses Hiro as a geek and hopelessly weird. That night over beers, he taunts Hiro and before leaving for the restroom himself, he tells Hiro to use the power to teleport into the women�s washroom. When he gets back, Hiro is being removed by bouncers. As they walk away from the bar, he tells Hiro to be normal.
Mohinder encounters the Man with the Glasses who had been searching his father�s apartment when he gets into Mohinder�s cab. He so spooked by the meeting that Mohinder stops the car and runs away.
Hiro decides one morning to try to teleport. He closes his eyes and concentrates and when opens them, he�s in Times Square in New York.
Peter asks his brother to meet him in an alley. He climbs to the top of the building. Sure he will fly, he jumps. He falls. Suddenly, Nathan rises, flying up to catch his brother and bring him safely to the ground.
After surviving and healing completely from several alarming accidents, Claire asks her mother to tell her who her real parents are. The Man with the Glasses enters their house; he is Claire�s (adoptive?) father.
My thoughts: A good opening episode. All of this would sound trite except that it is actually done well. After the initial dialogue problems, the characters start to sound like real humans, not plot expositions. There are real moments of tension, fear and wonder: Claire resetting her bones after a fall, Niki being menaced by a loan shark�s thugs, Hiro successfully teleporting himself from Tokyo to New York. Sure, the special effects look good, but there are elements to the story that are intriguing. What is the significance of the eclipse? What is the catastrophe Isaac has painted? And how does a comic book called 9th Wonders have to do with all of this?
One prediction � Peter�s power is actually his belief in his brother; that is, his belief and love for his brother gives his brother the ability to fly or other superpowers.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Boardgames for broke and bored
I love games and I love getting together with friends to play all sorts of games. Usually we play RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons, but occasionally we need the fun and ease boardgames can provide. Oh sure, you can always bust out the Star Wars Monopoly set or Clue, but sometimes you're in the mood for something different. Enter Cheapass Games:
http://www.cheapass.com/
Cheapass Games makes unusual boardgames that are easy to learn, challenging and fun. Take for example Kill Doctor Lucky: this game plays like a reverse Clue, where all of the players try to kill off the good doctor as he moves through an old mansion. All of the games are extraordinarily cheap; most are less than $10, though even a good number of those are under $5. And as a bonus, most of the games can be completed in an hour or less.
However, if you're on an even tighter budget, you can simply download and print boardgames from Game-it Yourself:
http://www.runestoneit.com/~dseagraves/board_games.html
The downloads give you the rules and a board if appropriate and you use whatever coins, tokens, toys, dice or Lego brick you might have lying around. Most of the games are free, though a few now charge a nominal fee for download.
http://www.cheapass.com/
Cheapass Games makes unusual boardgames that are easy to learn, challenging and fun. Take for example Kill Doctor Lucky: this game plays like a reverse Clue, where all of the players try to kill off the good doctor as he moves through an old mansion. All of the games are extraordinarily cheap; most are less than $10, though even a good number of those are under $5. And as a bonus, most of the games can be completed in an hour or less.
However, if you're on an even tighter budget, you can simply download and print boardgames from Game-it Yourself:
http://www.runestoneit.com/~dseagraves/board_games.html
The downloads give you the rules and a board if appropriate and you use whatever coins, tokens, toys, dice or Lego brick you might have lying around. Most of the games are free, though a few now charge a nominal fee for download.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
More Cinema on the Web
Is it an art film or simply special effects shots strung together?
http://www.wehavedecidednottodie.com/preview.html
No matter what you decide, you have to admit that the film entitled We Have Decided Not to Die is an extraordinary piece of film making. Only a snippet is available online, but there are some disquieting images to be found. I'm not sure how I feel about it: some of it seems like a great deal of simply showing off, especially since there doesn't seem to be any context (read:story) for the images. I'm not saying that a film has to have a narrative in order to be good or entertaining or art (or anything for that matter), but just showing me some fantastic CGI, editing or other film tricks doesn't make it automatically good or entertaining or art either.
Do me a favor though. Just watch the preview and don't read the interview. Once a film teacher told our class that if the film maker has to explain his work, then he has failed as a film maker. He can't go to every screening and answer the questions of the audience members. Either the film speaks for itself or it doesn't. If you feel like you must read the interview, wait until after you've seen the preview, so that you can decide for yourself what the film is about and whether or not you think the film maker has done his job.
http://www.wehavedecidednottodie.com/preview.html
No matter what you decide, you have to admit that the film entitled We Have Decided Not to Die is an extraordinary piece of film making. Only a snippet is available online, but there are some disquieting images to be found. I'm not sure how I feel about it: some of it seems like a great deal of simply showing off, especially since there doesn't seem to be any context (read:story) for the images. I'm not saying that a film has to have a narrative in order to be good or entertaining or art (or anything for that matter), but just showing me some fantastic CGI, editing or other film tricks doesn't make it automatically good or entertaining or art either.
Do me a favor though. Just watch the preview and don't read the interview. Once a film teacher told our class that if the film maker has to explain his work, then he has failed as a film maker. He can't go to every screening and answer the questions of the audience members. Either the film speaks for itself or it doesn't. If you feel like you must read the interview, wait until after you've seen the preview, so that you can decide for yourself what the film is about and whether or not you think the film maker has done his job.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
No, my phone number really doesn't spell anything
I thought this was a fun site: enter a number (as in, your telephone number) and see what it spells based on the letters on the keypad:
http://www.phonespell.com/phoneSpell.html
How disappointing though that the four telephone numbers I entered didn't really spell anything.
http://www.phonespell.com/phoneSpell.html
How disappointing though that the four telephone numbers I entered didn't really spell anything.
There's no excuse not to read...
Here's my newest favorite site/service:
Daily Lit
Browse from 200 titles of classic literature from Dante Aligheri to Emile Zola and sign up to have a book (or two) sent to you by email. The book isn't sent all at once, but in manageable chunks at the time of day and frequency (every day, every week day, etc.) you specify. A "manageable chunk" is about a page of text, not much more than a long email, and because it's plain text, it's easy on the eyes.
Right now I'm reading Leaves of Grass by Walt Witman and Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. It's a nice break in the middle of my day and takes no more than ten minutes or so to enjoy. I probably waste more time writing this journal.
Daily Lit
Browse from 200 titles of classic literature from Dante Aligheri to Emile Zola and sign up to have a book (or two) sent to you by email. The book isn't sent all at once, but in manageable chunks at the time of day and frequency (every day, every week day, etc.) you specify. A "manageable chunk" is about a page of text, not much more than a long email, and because it's plain text, it's easy on the eyes.
Right now I'm reading Leaves of Grass by Walt Witman and Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. It's a nice break in the middle of my day and takes no more than ten minutes or so to enjoy. I probably waste more time writing this journal.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Cinema on the Web Part Three
A short post about short films:
http://www.filminute.com/vote/index.php
I came across this site just today and was excited to find so many short films in one place. All of the films are about 1 minute in length or less and fall into different categories; I was really please to see one-minute documentaries, for example. AND, the viewers get to vote for their favorite until 30 September, 2006.
Watch the films (it should take less than a half hour) and vote!
http://www.filminute.com/vote/index.php
I came across this site just today and was excited to find so many short films in one place. All of the films are about 1 minute in length or less and fall into different categories; I was really please to see one-minute documentaries, for example. AND, the viewers get to vote for their favorite until 30 September, 2006.
Watch the films (it should take less than a half hour) and vote!
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Cinema on the Web Part Two
I have a few more sites to show you today.
This isn't film so much as a very clever and entertaining interactive Flash animation:
http://www.changar.com/archives/go.html
This is a new take on the animation following your mouse pointer - a crazy rabbit thinks it's a carrot and hijinx follow. I could play with this for hours.
Take the videogame, The Sims, and set it in a 1920s Hollywood movie studio. Hire actors, buy props and costumes, build sets. Then, give your users the ability to write and animate their own films with your software. Welcome to the wonderful, weird world of The Movies:
http://movies.lionhead.com/
Using the Sandbox utility, game addicts can create their own movies to trade with others. The official site of the game (the URL above) has several interesting, funny or just plain weird little videos, but you can often find them by Googling "machinima" (the term used for movies made using videogame engines). Another good example is a fairly good horror film called Dracula's Guest on this site:
http://www.candlelightstories.com/movies.asp
This isn't film so much as a very clever and entertaining interactive Flash animation:
http://www.changar.com/archives/go.html
This is a new take on the animation following your mouse pointer - a crazy rabbit thinks it's a carrot and hijinx follow. I could play with this for hours.
Take the videogame, The Sims, and set it in a 1920s Hollywood movie studio. Hire actors, buy props and costumes, build sets. Then, give your users the ability to write and animate their own films with your software. Welcome to the wonderful, weird world of The Movies:
http://movies.lionhead.com/
Using the Sandbox utility, game addicts can create their own movies to trade with others. The official site of the game (the URL above) has several interesting, funny or just plain weird little videos, but you can often find them by Googling "machinima" (the term used for movies made using videogame engines). Another good example is a fairly good horror film called Dracula's Guest on this site:
http://www.candlelightstories.com/movies.asp
Congratulations, Eris!
You really were invited, it's just that your invitation was several millenia late:
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/09/14/eris-dwarf-planet.html
Hail Eris!
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/09/14/eris-dwarf-planet.html
Hail Eris!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Cinema on the Web Part One
I was a terrible film student.
No, I should rephrase that. I was a terrible student film maker. I am an excellent student of film when it comes to writing, studying and thinking about film. If I could, I would go to the movies every night of the week (and I used to when I was in school). I love analyzing film and I love looking for the little details, the symbolism, use of color, the framing of scenes. But mostly, I just enjoy being told a story, which is probably why I did better as a screenwriter than as a cinematographer or director.
One of the millions of reasons I love the Internet so much now is the ability for indie and hobby film makers to find an audience for their films. I'm not talking about the boobs on YouTube lipsyncing to disco songs, but film makers crafting short films and animations. But I'm also not talking about Art here necessarily either, though I have found some very beautiful and thoughtful films, but something in between Amateur Crap and High Art Pretentiousness.
Whenever I find a great movie site on the Web, I bookmark it for future viewings. Sometimes I email it to friends but usually the URL just gets tucked away into a folder and forgotten. And that's a real shame, because these sites really deserve some attention.
First, let's look at one of my new favorites, Elevator Moods:
http://www.elevatormoods.com/
The site itself is clever, designed to look like an elevator control panel. It uses just enough Flash to make it interesting and interactive, but not so much to make it annoyingly slow. Each of the movies are very short, only about the average length of an elevator ride, and use either an actual surveillance camera or an inexpensive camera rigged in the same manner, an ingenious way to get around the limitations of cheap equipment and poor video quality. The stories aren't necessarily unique or particularly well-written, but have an endearing roughness.
Next, a very impressive animation:
http://blissful.leftchannel.com/
This very short, abstract movie is difficult to describe. Done in entirely in black and white, often in what appears as ink blots, cilia and/or silhouettes, it has a disturbing beauty. The animation technique by itself is amazing and smooth.
No, I should rephrase that. I was a terrible student film maker. I am an excellent student of film when it comes to writing, studying and thinking about film. If I could, I would go to the movies every night of the week (and I used to when I was in school). I love analyzing film and I love looking for the little details, the symbolism, use of color, the framing of scenes. But mostly, I just enjoy being told a story, which is probably why I did better as a screenwriter than as a cinematographer or director.
One of the millions of reasons I love the Internet so much now is the ability for indie and hobby film makers to find an audience for their films. I'm not talking about the boobs on YouTube lipsyncing to disco songs, but film makers crafting short films and animations. But I'm also not talking about Art here necessarily either, though I have found some very beautiful and thoughtful films, but something in between Amateur Crap and High Art Pretentiousness.
Whenever I find a great movie site on the Web, I bookmark it for future viewings. Sometimes I email it to friends but usually the URL just gets tucked away into a folder and forgotten. And that's a real shame, because these sites really deserve some attention.
First, let's look at one of my new favorites, Elevator Moods:
http://www.elevatormoods.com/
The site itself is clever, designed to look like an elevator control panel. It uses just enough Flash to make it interesting and interactive, but not so much to make it annoyingly slow. Each of the movies are very short, only about the average length of an elevator ride, and use either an actual surveillance camera or an inexpensive camera rigged in the same manner, an ingenious way to get around the limitations of cheap equipment and poor video quality. The stories aren't necessarily unique or particularly well-written, but have an endearing roughness.
Next, a very impressive animation:
http://blissful.leftchannel.com/
This very short, abstract movie is difficult to describe. Done in entirely in black and white, often in what appears as ink blots, cilia and/or silhouettes, it has a disturbing beauty. The animation technique by itself is amazing and smooth.
Monday, September 11, 2006
A Very Enlightening Web Site
Like so many other great sites, I found this one by accident, while searching for something completely different. It is a site for a company called FluidEffect, which specializes in photographic retouching, site design, etc.:
http://www.fluideffect.com/
Go to this URL. Click on the Portfolio link. Agree to their site terms and choose "Before and After." Choose any of the thumbnails, which will show the "after" part. If you want to see the "before" image, click and hold the "before" link (it's in tiny type above the thumbnails).
The results are startling. I always knew that magazine photos, especially those of celebrities, were touched up, but until I saw the before and after, I really didn't know just how much.
http://www.fluideffect.com/
Go to this URL. Click on the Portfolio link. Agree to their site terms and choose "Before and After." Choose any of the thumbnails, which will show the "after" part. If you want to see the "before" image, click and hold the "before" link (it's in tiny type above the thumbnails).
The results are startling. I always knew that magazine photos, especially those of celebrities, were touched up, but until I saw the before and after, I really didn't know just how much.
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Fall TV Time - 2006
Yes, once again it is Fall TV Preview time, one of my favorite times of the year. Here is a list of TV programs I am looking forward to:
Heroes (premiers 25 September): Take one part Lost, one part The 4400 and one part X-Men. Add in a lot of hype, some very intriguing teasers and high quality special effects. I'm a little bit worried about the writing, as it is written and produced by the same team that creates Crossing Jordan, a rather light-weight and improbable crime drama (with some hokey plots and not-so-good acting), and it is rather obviously trying to capture the Lost fans. The characters listed on the show's site are not as interesting as I would like: a painter with an addiction; a cop who hears voices; a girl who is indestructible, yet wants to be normal; a son following his murdered father's crazy research, looking for answers. Yet, I am a sucker for any SciFi/Fantasy/Horror I can get, so I will definitely watch at least the first few episodes.
Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip (premiers 25 September) and 30 Rock: NBC is getting weird and a little bit senile in its old age - this fall, it has two completely different shows based on the same thing, namely the back-stage politics of producing a comedy show, a thinly veiled Saturday Night Live. Both are written by some of the best television writers around - Aaron Sorkin, the genius behind West Wing and Tina Fey, my personal hero and the genius who may have single-handedly saved Saturday Night Live (that is probably an exaggeration, but honestly, the only thing I really love to watch is the Weekend Update). I suppose if there is room for three Law and Order programs, then two SNL spin-offs doesn't seem like much of a stretch.
Smith (premiers 26 September): I am probably one of 10 people who actually liked the remake of Ocean's Eleven, so hearing about a TV show that is the adventures of high-level thieves got my attention. Fan reviews have been high, but rumors of bad reviews are everywhere. I really want to have Ray Liotta on my TV every week, however, so I'll be tuning in.
Veronica Mars (premiers 3 October): The first season's date rape plot and the murder of Lily (Veronica's best friend, for the uninitiated) storyline had me riveted. The second season somehow managed to keep the murder storyline afloat without making it boring AND gave us the startling bus crash plot (it's not as hokey as I make it sound, trust me). I can't wait to see what season three has in store.
House (5 September): I was not a faithful watcher of Dr. House and I actually only just started watching the show in reruns. I have no idea what's going on with his cane and the apparent "cure" of his painkiller addiction. Frankly, I don't give a rat's ass, as long as Dr. House is still cranky.
Lost (3 October): The sudden emergence, at the end of the season no less, of Desmond not only as an important character, but also as a good, compassionate, heroic and interesting one, left me in a state. The show introduced as many intriguing puzzles as it answered, which left many fans (on the message boards at least) feeling unfulfilled and restless. My hope is, no matter how much I love the show, that this is last season. It is skillfully written, but four+ seasons of no answers will eventually get old, even if I am still rabid for more.
Supernatural (28 September): Last season ended on a cliffhanger, with the boys and their father badly hurt from a car accident. It seems unlikely that show's writers would off either of the brothers, but the father has been a marked man from the start. It's possible that someone might be in a coma for most of the season (making him a target for the various monsters and cultists that populate the show) or that all of them will simply wake up in the first episode. I'm curious to see what cliche the writers decide on. Even for all its cliches, plot holes and predictible plots, I still think the show has potential. The chemistry between the actors is good, the soundtrack is fun and man, do I love monsters.
Dexter: Showtime is the new HBO. Who cares about Entourage (the only reason to watch it is for Jeremy Piven anyway) when you have Weeds? Plus, there is Dexter, a new series featuring Michael C. Hall (once a star on HBO's Six Feet Under) that appeals to my inner goth. Based on the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, it follows the adventures of Dexter, a CSI by day and a serial killer by night. Subject matter aside, did I mention it has Michael C. Hall?
Heroes (premiers 25 September): Take one part Lost, one part The 4400 and one part X-Men. Add in a lot of hype, some very intriguing teasers and high quality special effects. I'm a little bit worried about the writing, as it is written and produced by the same team that creates Crossing Jordan, a rather light-weight and improbable crime drama (with some hokey plots and not-so-good acting), and it is rather obviously trying to capture the Lost fans. The characters listed on the show's site are not as interesting as I would like: a painter with an addiction; a cop who hears voices; a girl who is indestructible, yet wants to be normal; a son following his murdered father's crazy research, looking for answers. Yet, I am a sucker for any SciFi/Fantasy/Horror I can get, so I will definitely watch at least the first few episodes.
Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip (premiers 25 September) and 30 Rock: NBC is getting weird and a little bit senile in its old age - this fall, it has two completely different shows based on the same thing, namely the back-stage politics of producing a comedy show, a thinly veiled Saturday Night Live. Both are written by some of the best television writers around - Aaron Sorkin, the genius behind West Wing and Tina Fey, my personal hero and the genius who may have single-handedly saved Saturday Night Live (that is probably an exaggeration, but honestly, the only thing I really love to watch is the Weekend Update). I suppose if there is room for three Law and Order programs, then two SNL spin-offs doesn't seem like much of a stretch.
Smith (premiers 26 September): I am probably one of 10 people who actually liked the remake of Ocean's Eleven, so hearing about a TV show that is the adventures of high-level thieves got my attention. Fan reviews have been high, but rumors of bad reviews are everywhere. I really want to have Ray Liotta on my TV every week, however, so I'll be tuning in.
Veronica Mars (premiers 3 October): The first season's date rape plot and the murder of Lily (Veronica's best friend, for the uninitiated) storyline had me riveted. The second season somehow managed to keep the murder storyline afloat without making it boring AND gave us the startling bus crash plot (it's not as hokey as I make it sound, trust me). I can't wait to see what season three has in store.
House (5 September): I was not a faithful watcher of Dr. House and I actually only just started watching the show in reruns. I have no idea what's going on with his cane and the apparent "cure" of his painkiller addiction. Frankly, I don't give a rat's ass, as long as Dr. House is still cranky.
Lost (3 October): The sudden emergence, at the end of the season no less, of Desmond not only as an important character, but also as a good, compassionate, heroic and interesting one, left me in a state. The show introduced as many intriguing puzzles as it answered, which left many fans (on the message boards at least) feeling unfulfilled and restless. My hope is, no matter how much I love the show, that this is last season. It is skillfully written, but four+ seasons of no answers will eventually get old, even if I am still rabid for more.
Supernatural (28 September): Last season ended on a cliffhanger, with the boys and their father badly hurt from a car accident. It seems unlikely that show's writers would off either of the brothers, but the father has been a marked man from the start. It's possible that someone might be in a coma for most of the season (making him a target for the various monsters and cultists that populate the show) or that all of them will simply wake up in the first episode. I'm curious to see what cliche the writers decide on. Even for all its cliches, plot holes and predictible plots, I still think the show has potential. The chemistry between the actors is good, the soundtrack is fun and man, do I love monsters.
Dexter: Showtime is the new HBO. Who cares about Entourage (the only reason to watch it is for Jeremy Piven anyway) when you have Weeds? Plus, there is Dexter, a new series featuring Michael C. Hall (once a star on HBO's Six Feet Under) that appeals to my inner goth. Based on the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, it follows the adventures of Dexter, a CSI by day and a serial killer by night. Subject matter aside, did I mention it has Michael C. Hall?
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Pop Culture Hits Chicago
Holy cow, there is so much going on both in the City in general and the world of pop culture.
For one, Lollapalooza is this weekend in Grant Park and I really wish I could go. It's a great place to have it, although downtown can get congested under the best of circumstances. But being outside in a really beautiful park, surrounded by magnificent buildings on one side and the Sea of Michigan on the other - what could be better? The lineup this year is really good, too, which makes me even more bitter about missing it. I was surprised to see Smoking Popes on the roster (they're still around?!?) and seeing Wolfmother listed just made me smile. It's nice to see old faves like the Reverend Horton Heat and Violent Femmes along with some of my new faves, Dresden Dolls, Gnarls Barkley and She Wants Revenge. If you're going, you're a lucky bastard.
I will, however, be going to the geek festival know as Wizard World. Make fun of me all you want, but Wizard is far cheaper for me ($25 versus $65 for one day) and takes far less time, which means I can squeeze it into my already packed weekend schedule. I have a short list of comics I'm looking for such as the last half of the Ocean mini series that I missed, for example, and all of the issues of 52, since I've managed to miss those as well. I hope I find some deals!
For one, Lollapalooza is this weekend in Grant Park and I really wish I could go. It's a great place to have it, although downtown can get congested under the best of circumstances. But being outside in a really beautiful park, surrounded by magnificent buildings on one side and the Sea of Michigan on the other - what could be better? The lineup this year is really good, too, which makes me even more bitter about missing it. I was surprised to see Smoking Popes on the roster (they're still around?!?) and seeing Wolfmother listed just made me smile. It's nice to see old faves like the Reverend Horton Heat and Violent Femmes along with some of my new faves, Dresden Dolls, Gnarls Barkley and She Wants Revenge. If you're going, you're a lucky bastard.
I will, however, be going to the geek festival know as Wizard World. Make fun of me all you want, but Wizard is far cheaper for me ($25 versus $65 for one day) and takes far less time, which means I can squeeze it into my already packed weekend schedule. I have a short list of comics I'm looking for such as the last half of the Ocean mini series that I missed, for example, and all of the issues of 52, since I've managed to miss those as well. I hope I find some deals!
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