TorontoJediMaster Reviews

240-Robert (1979–1981)

I Remember This Show from Childhood.

[21 April 2005]

I remember watching this show way, way back when I was about 7 or 8.

I recall that I really enjoyed it. I especially liked the SCUBA rescues they did.

Another reviewer called in a cross between "Baywatch" and "CHIPS". Personally, I always saw it as an attempt by ABC to duplicate the success of NBC's "Emergency".

The format was basically the same. You had two partners, who were rescue specialists in their departments. They spent the majority of their day rescuing hapless citizens from the predicaments they had gotten themselves into. The primary difference was that "Emergency" was about the L.A. County Fire Department, while "240-Robert" involved the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.

I do wish that they would bring this show back in reruns. I think that an awesome combination would be "Emergency", "CHIPS" and "240-Robert" all running back-to-back with each other.

Happy Days (1974–1984)

Note to Joel S., The Fonz WAS Cool!

[28 August 2004]

I don't know what Joel S. was watching when he was making comments about Fonzie being a loser.

Fonzie was supposed to be older than the rest of the gang, but not by that many years. Perhaps it was because Henry Winkler was older than the rest of the cast that he looked, as you said, twenty years older.

Fonzie never dated high school girls. He knew they were too young for him. He had morals.

Fonzie being an illiterate high school drop-out? I don't know where you got that from. Fonzie had dropped out of high school when the show started, but one of plot points of the episode where Richie graduated high school was that Fonzie revealed that he'd been secretly going to night school to earn his high school diploma. He graduated with the rest of the gang.

Fonzie living above the Cunningham's garage. That was because he'd given up his own apartment to his grandmother after she'd been forced to leave her own place. He stayed above the garage for so long because he loved he Cunninghams like his own family. He essentially was a part of the family. In the last season, he did move out into a regular apartment. In the last episode he bought a house so that he would be allowed to adopt an orphaned boy he'd befriended. Gee...buying a house so you can provide a good home and be a good parent? Doesn't sound like a loser.

As well, Fonzie also worked several jobs at once. He was (or became) the owner of the garage he worked at. When Arnold's burned down, he put up money to help Al rebuild and became the part-owner. Then, he started teaching shop class at Jefferson High. He later went to a tough school and became the Dean of Boys, so he could help kids who needed guidance.

So, I think Fonzie was a cool character not because of his leather jacket, or motorcycle, or his prowess with girls. I think he was cool because he was a good person who was always willing to help a friend in need. Did you ever see the episode where Al wants to go down to Alabama to join a Civil Rights march? (This was a later episode when the time was the 1960's). Fonzie is concerned about Al's safety and goes with him to look out for him. Fonzie joins Al and a young African-American man in a sit-in at a diner. That doesn't sound like something a loser would do.

Pumping Iron (1977)

I Simply LOVE This Movie

[23 January 2004]

I've had the old VHS copy of this film for years. For Christmas, I got the 25th Anniversary DVD, and it is FANTASTIC.

<Spoilers Ahead>

I love seeing the bodybuilders of the film, sitting around 25 years later and remembering the glory days. (And if you look at how bodybuilders today look like chemically laden freaks, versus these true masters from the 70's, you will see these champions truly were great. They had Herculean physiques that actually looked GOOD).

Arnold, in the film, comes across as ruthlessly determined to win at all costs -even not going to his father's funeral as it was too close to a contest date. Well, most of what Arnold says in the film was made up to create some drama and make him look like -as he described- "the Germanic machine". (In reality, he had a good relationship with his father, who died a few months after his 1972 Olympia win, and Arnold did indeed go to the funeral). Nowadays, when Arnold looks back on the film, he admits that he "went a little overboard" in how he portrayed himself.

Back then, bodybuilders did try and psyche each other out before contests. However, they also all trained together and socialized together. They did try to gain the upper hand at contests, but nobody ever took any attempted psyche-outs personally. (Ken Waller and Mike Katz, for example, have always been good friends. The t-shirt thing was a joke that was made into drama on screen. Waller recalls how long afterwards he was booed at contests for the t-shirt incident).

Lou Ferrigno was indeed doing his best to unseat Arnold as Mr. Olympia, but neither he nor his father had any dislike for Arnold. Arnold has always been Lou's idol when he was starting out. Much of how they were made to be such "enemies" was done to create some drama for the film. That was the reason why George Butler had Lou always training in this little dungeon of a gym in Brooklyn. They wanted a contrast between champion Arnold in sunny Venice Beach, while poor Lou is in this dark little gym, training with the neighbourhoos schmoes. (i.e. That guy with the afro, doing dumbbell curls). Lou actually did a lot of training at Venice Beach, but for the film he had to train in Brooklyn instead. You'll notice how despite their "war" with each other, whenever Arnold or Lou talk to each other in the film they're always smiling at each other when they talk. I think that one of the most positive aspects of the film is that even though they competed against one another on stage, they were all friends.

People have commented on how Serge Nubret (the black bodybuilder who placed 2nd in the heavyweight competition) was virtually ignored in the film. There were two reasons for that. Nubret was from France, so Butler wasn't able to include him in the pre-contest scenes. Secondly (and most critically), Nubret was a VERY late addition to the contest. I don't think either Arnold or Lou knew he'd be competing with them until they were in Pretoria. Thus, the film crew didn't know about it either. It was too late to work him into anything, or to suddenly add him into the cast of characters. (There's a photo in Flex Magazine where Arnold, Lou and Matty are being told that Nubret will be taking part in the competition. They all look surprised and not too pleased).

Overall, I find the film to be inspiring on many levels. It inspires me to keep working out. It inspires me about attaining my goals. I can't recommend this film more highly. The extras features on the DVD are worth the price of it, alone.

Dracula (1974 TV Movie)

More of A Re-Working of "Dark Shadows" and "The Night Stalker"

[18 January 2004]

<Possible Spoilers>

I remember looking forward to seeing this film, as it was billed as "an accurate depiction" of Stoker's novel, as well as seeing how Palance would treat the role.

I'm afraid to say that I was greatly disappointed. Palance didn't seem to carry any charm in the role. He conveyed power, but none of the charm of Lugosi, Langella or Jourdan. He did well acting as a menace, but didn't carry it off as a seducer. For some reason, the script had him throwing people around left and right, to demonstrate his strength. The scene where he gets into a brawl with the locals at an inn is nowhere in the novel. It seemed more like something out of a western with a tavern fight. It also was reminiscent of Dan Curtis' production "The Night Stalker", where Skorzeny physically fights off a dozen Las Vegas policemen. Curtis appeared to be restaging elements of "The Night Stalker", only this time with Dracula as the vampire.

The scenes with Harker were a clear deviance from the novel. Harker seemed to be pretty much written out of the whole film after his scene at the castle.

Other scenes appeared to be directly lifted from another earlier Curtis production "Dark Shadows". The scene of Lucy recovering following blood transfusions, only to be lured out at night (daylight shot through a filter) and fatally bitten is from "House of Dark Shadows". Likewise, the funeral held in the rainstorm, followed by the victim rising as a vampire is also a redoing of "House of Dark Shadows". That was almost shot identically, scene for scene from the earlier film.

The final confrontation at the castle was also a remake of "The Night Stalker" finale. The set-up was the same. The vampire hunters come to the vampire's house to confront him just before dawn. He comes in and physically throws them about like rag dolls. Someone pulls open the drapes and lets the sunlight in. The vampire is weakened, then staked. That is just how the finale of "The Night Stalker" went down.

Even Palance's portayal was reminiscent of Barry Atwater's performance of Janos Skorzeny. They were both shown as very primal and brutal, having supernatural strength but no real social skills or human graces.

Palance gave a good performance as it seems to have been written. However, I think he was miscast. I do think that if he'd been allowed to show more of the character's humanity, he could have done a better job though. For the best portrayal of the character, I believe that honour goes to Louis Jourdan in the 1977 BBC version, "Count Dracula".

Happy Days (1974–1984)

One of My Favourite Shows

[11 January 2004]

I have nothing but fond memories of this show.

I remember when I was a kid, I used to watch it every night -on reruns.

I actually liked the later episodes better. The early episodes -especially the first season where it was filmed with a single camera, no audience and closed sets- seemed to be more about the nostalgia of the 1950's. The later ones were more about the relationships between the characters and the great interplay between them. Watching Richie and Fonzie discuss the plot of the week, you could see the really great chemistry the two actors had in the scene. The two played off each other perfectly. The early episodes had Potsie as Richie's main friend and most conversations were between them. They didn't have any of the match as the later Fonzie/Richie convos had.

Yes, some of the plots got a little outlandish later -the Candyman's plot (an episode that I loved nevertheless), jumping the shark, etc- however, I don't think it affected the show that much. The show was about the character that we -the audience- had grown to love and just watching them interact with each other.

That was why the era didn't matter in the later episodes. It wasn't about the nostalgia. It was about the people.

Chowderhead mentioned how Fonzie was only about 5'6 and wouldn't be a threat to anyone. Marion Ross, said how Garry Marshall when pointed out that Henry Winkler was only 5'6, replied how "he acts like he's 7 feet tall". That was the key to Henry Winkler's performance as the Fonz. He might not have been tall....but he was TOUGH. Just because someone is short, doesn't mean that they're not a formidable opponent. Henry Winkler was able to project that aura of toughness perfectly. It was all about his attitude. (Incidentally, when interviewed, Henry Winkler is the first to admit that he's nowhere NEAR to EVER having been as cool or as tough as the Fonz.)

Count Dracula (1977 TV Movie)

Best, and Most Faithful, Version of the Story Ever Filmed!

[10/10 · 10 January 2004]

This is, without a doubt, the best and most faithful version of Bram Stoker's novel ever filmed.

Anyone who went to see the 1992 Coppola version and was disappointed at it's failure to live up to its billing as a faithful rendition of the novel, then they should check out this superlative effort by the BBC.

The cast is uniformly excellent. Louis Jourdan gives a tremendous performance as the Count. He brings a subtle menace to the role that few actors have ever been able to do. He has none of Gary Oldman's over-the-top theatrics or bizarre appearance. When Jourdan's Dracula answers the door, he appears as a normal looking man, dressed in black. The signs of something amiss are subtle; not in your face. When Dracula insists on helping Harker with his heavy trunk (which Harker had been forced to drag, due to the weight) he effortlessly picks it up and carries it in and up the stairs. He projects charm and menace in the role. This is also the first version that has his descending down the outside wall of his castle like an insect.

Frank Finlay is also wonderful as Professor Van Helsing. He makes the character a kindly, likeable man, but with an unbreakable determination. He is determined to stop Dracula, but also is genuinely concerned about the welfare of companions in the crusade; as well as any potential victims -i.e.his genuine horror at discovering the vampiric Lucy has attacked a small child. (Compare that to Anthony Hopkins overacting every scene he's in). Bosco Hogan is probably the best actor to play Jonathan Harker. And, Judi Bowker is the perfect Mina. She projects innocence, intelligence and is more than able to handle herself in a rough situation. (She saves Jonathan by shooting one of the Count's bodyguards off his back). Susan Penhaligon is fine as the doomed Lucy. Mark Burns, Jack Shepard and Richard Barnes give very good work as -respectively- Seward, Renfield and Quincy.

The sets are marvellous. The castle looks creepy and authentic (both interiors and exteriors). The homes look like people actually live in them. As an added bonus, there are actually scenes filmed in Whitby.

There are some deviations from the novel (Mina and Lucy are sisters. The character of Arthur and Quincy are merged into one -Quincy Holmwood). However, compared to other adaptions these are very minor. (None of the Mina being a reincarnation of his lost love...None of the whole story being turned into a parlour mystery that never leaves Dr. Seward's living room...etc)

I cannot recommend this film highly enough. If anyone enjoys Dracula films, go check it out. The DVD picture and sound quality are amazing. They also restore a scene cut from TV viewings where Dracula's brides feast on a baby.

This version was shut up in BBC vaults for over 25 years. Now that it's been released I sincerely hope that more people can see it, and it can be accorded it's deserving title as the most faithful and well done version of the novel, ever.