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Reviews
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
More than a comedy
I went into this movie thinking it would be hilarious. I believe this is how the movie was marketed, and would explain the poor box office showing of this movie.
However, this is more a story about life than a comedy. Sure it has a comedy wrapper, but a wrapper is usually thin and inedible compared to the candy inside. This is not your typical candy, but it is fruitful in many ways. This movie is a fabric, not a two dimensional piece of characatured tissue paper as the many signs would have you believe.
This movie is for deep thinking people and those with a heart.
See it.
Stacked (2005)
Formula show with potential
Like myself, many red blooded American males probably checked out this show for the obvious attraction, Pamela Anderson.
However, this show seems to take itself a little more seriously than a formula exploitation show.
The writing so far (2 eps) is excellent, with some well crafted, though not oblique, nuances. More than just well written, the script offers kindness and compassion toward the main character, Skyler Dayton, and generally stays away from cheap jokes.
Also, if you read the marquee, this is a great veteran cast. Anderson, as much as she is known for her looks, is a competent actress who can walk the line between cheesecake and intelligence, playing the somewhat fish out of water party girl turned bookstore employee. Elon Gold offers the dry not quite nerdy comedy of author and bookshop owner. And we see the long absent from series television, the legendary Christopher Lloyd playing a subtle but backbone unifying role as a retired professor.
So far, this show has a lot of potential and respect for the subject matter. I recommend this show to those who like subtle but intelligent comedy with a little charm.
The Shield (2002)
very good show, still good, but not as good as original season
when this show first arrived, it was as profound as hill street blues or nypd blue when they first came out. the show was gritty and about as realistic as one could imagine.
since then (now 2005 season), the show has become diluted, lost in unusual and unworkable plots (money train being the worst conception) and actors cringing at how bad their lines are.
still, the show is good, and is as good as most other shows.
disappointing was the premier episode with glenn close. she kept grinning in a way uncharacteristic of a woman in the position and with life experience and toughness of what she attempting to depict. Also she leans too close to people showing a lack of authority commensurate with her position.
this premier meandered through incompatible lines, endlessly trying to explain plot twists that happened in between seasons and seemingly all the actors seemed quite a bit uncomfortable with one another until the last scene, where we find a weird, but intriguing plot twist of a possible former strike team-team member being involved with a murder for hire or similar situation.
I hope Glenn Close and the writers pull it together - they have the potential to really eclipse the first season, but like the succession of star wars movies, never seeming yet to recapture the vibrancy, fluidity, excitement and realism of the first season.
... apparently these comments are now, after seeing a few more episodes, a bit hasty, Glenn Close IS Glenn Close and she comes through with flying colors. For better or worse, this season is shaping to be as good as any other, with some really great plot twists, perhaps too exceptional and realistic, as for the first time, I have had to avert my eyes for one of the scenes of a young person being murdered. Keep shocking us, Shield writers.
Wife Swap (2004)
One of the Best Shows in the History of Television
Really. This show is the opposite of the Milgram Experiment, although at times it may seem as such.
Two couples (not necessarily heterosexual) exchange the presence of each of their wives between households for a period of 2 weeks. The first week, the temporary wife goes by the rules of the wife of the home she is staying in. The second week, the temporary wife gets to change the rules, which does not always go as planned.
There is conflict and insight in this show. Through the process of the wives and families assimilating to each other over the course of 2 weeks, we gain insight into these families and we gain insight into ourselves.
One great result of this show seems that both families seem forever changed in some way. They realize that there is more to life and that learning from another can benefit them. They do not always like the messenger, but they appreciate how their lives have benefited.
My greatest joys of this show are that stereotypes break down and we see that there is more love in the world than often meets the eye.