What Would Jesus Watch?

Getting to Know You: Doctor Who (2005 onwards)

2010-04-30T18:25:00.000-07:00

With so many series running here in America it is really difficult to imagine a series being quite central to popular culture as DOCTOR WHO is to Britain. Certainly there are popular shows that many people watch, but a scripted series, that is watched and beloved by nearly the whole population is certainly unheard of. Especially if that show is science fiction.

Before I jump into this, I want to throw out the disclaimer that I am not nearly an expert on this series. I am just really enjoying it, and I think it is the kind of show that lots of other people would greatly enjoy. I'm just going from skimming Wikipedia and what I've seen in the first series and the first 3 or 4 episodes in the second series. I'm also trying not to spoil anything for you because it is really fun to watch the show unfold.

The original run of DOCTOR WHO was from 1963 until 1989. You may wonder how a series with a central character would be able to run for 26 years, uninterrupted. So, let's get into the basics of this show.

The show is about a nameless doctor who travels through space and time in a machine called the T.A.R.D.I.S. (Time And Relative Dimension In Space). The Doctor is of an alien race known as Time Lords who appear Human (or we look Time Lord, since they were around first). Time Lords have a neat little trick where if they are mortally wounded to the point of dying, they can transform. This has allowed for a revolving cast of actors to play the Doctor (eleven and counting to date). Each transformation turns the Doctor into a whole new person who is really the same person. His personality and demeanor may change, but he has the same memories and basic ethical outlook as "previous" Doctors.

In 1989, due to drastically diminished quality, DOCTOR WHO was canceled. Though attempts were made through the 1990's to bring the series back (some TV movies and an apparently ill-conceived American version) to no success. Then, in 2005, Russell T. Davies was tasked with starting a post-watershed Sci-Fi series for the BBC. Davies wound up putting together a new DOCTOR WHO. It still holds the same continuity from the 1963-1989 run of the series, but is very easily accessible to new viewers.

So, here's where I got acquainted with the series. The 2005 series stars Christopher Eccleston as the 9th Doctor. Eccleston is probably best recognized in America for turns as the villains in the GONE IN 60 SECONDS remake and GI JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA, and as the enigmatic invisible man Claude in the first season of HEROES. His companion, Rose, was Billie Piper (who can currently be seen in the BBC/Showtime series SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL).

The leads for the first series bring us along on their adventures over the course of 13 episodes that take us from a supernatural visit with Charles Dickens all the way to the end of the planet Earth (and many places in between). The guest stars from episode to episode are probably more recognizable in Britain, though there are certainly some familiar faces here and there (Simon Pegg is quite entertaining as the creepy/sleazy head of a space station).

An episode of this show can be about almost anything. There are episodes that are truly terrifying (the 2 part featuring "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" comes to mind), while others can be highly satirical (the penultimate series 1 episode "Bad Wolf" does a fun riff about competitive reality TV shows). The show jumps from engaging story to engaging story with what appears to be great ease. The actors inhabit their characters, and we are drawn into their journeys from different places throughout history and the future (though they are predominantly in Britain when set on Earth).

The first series sets the tone well for the series as it rockets back into the public consciousness, and shows a great arc as the Doctor and Rose get to know one another. Of course their relationship is definitely rocked as the series closes in the 13th episode. I won't spoil it for you, but series 2 had an interesting task and has thus far by my viewing lived up to its preceding season admirably.

This year marks the debut of a new status quo for DOCTOR WHO. Not only is there a brand new Doctor (played with great charm by Matt Smith) and new companion (Amy Pond played by Karen Gillen), but the T.A.R.D.I.S. has a new interior, and more importantly, Steven Moffat has taken over as head writer from Russell T Davies. I'm watching the current series, while also catching up on the previous 4.

The bottom line is the series is just plain fun. The show has many notable characteristics, one of which being its somewhat poor special effects. The T.A.R.D.I.S. is disguised as a blue Police Box for example, and the Doctor's greatest enemy, the Daleks, look like giant salt/pepper shakers. The effects aren't what is important on this show, it's about the story. The show finds a great way to balance goofy humor with dire seriousness. It is definitely worth checking out if you enjoy Sci-Fi, or programs that act as an institution for TV. You can check it out on Netflix streaming if you have the capability. The 13 episode seasons will set you back nearly $60.00-$75.00 for an individual set, so it may not be economically practical.

If you are interested in further reading about the history of the series, you should check out the AV Club's primer on the series.

Keep an eye peeled for some more getting to know you's in the coming weeks. I, at least, am planning some for THE VENTURE BROS., PARTY DOWN, and FRINGE.

Bpring Sreak

2010-03-03T20:29:00.000-08:00

It's time to break into spring (see what we did there?) and what better way to do so than to waste half an hour with us! Should that have ended with a question mark? I know that one should. Period.

In Defense of LOST's Final Season

2010-02-27T23:00:00.000-08:00

Over the past several weeks, since LOST premiered there has been some complaints with how the shows' creators have been handling the story. Many people are frustrated over things ranging from not having answers to their deepest questions answered right out of the gate to the decision to use the "flash-sideways" as a major storytelling element. We can understand that people have dreams of what this show would be like in its final season, and we can certainly say that we had our own going in. But here's the deal: it isn't our story to tell. It's certainly ours to experience and interpret, but the whole nature of story telling involves a component of placing your trust in the teller(s) that they know what they are doing, and will provide you with a compelling tale that you will think about and come back to in the future.

Chase and I decided that we would go back and forth providing why we think this season has been, and will continue to be awesome, much like we did with our review of Moon back in the summer. Plus, the whole reason you pay attention to us is because you like the way we talk to each other. Admit it. So, here it is:

BRANDON NORMAN: So, the first thing I want to get into with this is people's frustration with the time not spent giving twenty answers an episode, and instead used to introduce us to new characters and the focus on this struggle that we've only been made aware of in the penultimate season finale. The problem with looking at the season like this is LOST is very different from most TV shows that have come before it. It is intensely serialized, and as such is more like a book series than a television series. Each episode is more like a chapter in a book, which ultimately contribute to the overall narrative of the story. If you look at a series like Harry Potter, and its final book, JK Rowling didn't just dump tons of exposition and answers to mysteries she had been building since the previous books. If Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse had just kept the same old characters as the focus, and not given this final season of story some new perspective, then the writing would get really stale, and uninteresting.

CHASE MISENHEIMER: The Harry Potter parallel is the perfect one to draw from. The seasons are set up as their own entities. Season Three didn't start off immediately answering what happened to Eko, Locke and Desmond after the hatch exploded. Instead, it unfolded those stories slowly and we saw them progress in a more natural, paced way. Just because this is the last season, people are expecting this balls to the wall breakneck speed that would betray the rising action of the whole series. There's no need to rush this thing. When it's over, we'll have THE FORGOTTEN: DES MOINES.

I don't enjoy the complaining of this Jacob/Man In Black thing being tacked on to the end. So much of what we know of their presence can be seen in earlier seasons. I can think back and it still makes sense in my mind with what I've seen. Plus, the show has hinted at two idealogies duking it out since the beginning. Witness Jack/Locke, Ben/Widmore and now Jacob/MiB. It's been in the lifeblood of the show.

BN: Also, keeping with the book analogy, the biggest difference with LOST and a book series like Harry Potter (other than it being in a visual medium), is that if you are watching it live, you have space between the chapters to wait and wonder. You don't get the luxury of racing from chapter to chapter to immediately find out what happens next. LOST is all about the experience of seeing the story unfold, and then discussing it with people, and fighting over what will happen next. That's the beauty of a show like this. LOST is probably the first show to come along that is in every way a social experience. Yes, in the past people would gather at the water cooler and talk about what awesome thing happened in Law & Order: Criminal Intent the night before, but now with LOST, there are weekly viewing parties because people can't wait for the water cooler to talk about it. The way they've always told this story is in a way that fosters discussion and thought. For every minute of thought we have put into what we are watching, the writers put in days, if not weeks of thought to build the best possible story.

CM: Let's talk about that for a second. LOST's degree of difficulty is far & away number one in the history of television. The fan base is insane and even the casual viewer is sucked in. To keep track of the plot threads and details that have popped up in this show is an astronomical task. Can you imagine spearheading that? Especially with these last three seasons, the whole season is pretty much in the can before the audience even sees the premiere. These writers have to anticipate everything we want to see. Just be thankful for all the times you were happy. I can't write a coherent thought much less keep up with a...what was I talking about?

BN: Seriously. There is an entire Wikipedia site devoted to this series. There are so many details that are thrown in just to see if people will pick them up. Here's a recent example: both on the ceiling in the cave where NotLocke took sawyer, and then again on the wheel in the lighthouse, there were hundreds of names, HANDWRITTEN, with some significance given to each. Sure many are probably just place fillers, but there's also got to be so many name drops there to works of literature, film, music, philosophy, etc. that have something to do with this show. If one were to go through and read or watch or research every work of art referenced in this show it would take decades.

CM: So here's the real issue everyone wants to talk about: will LOST end satisfactory? Brandon, you can go first but I bet you anything we'll say the same thing.

BN:
I absolutely think it will have a satisfactory ending. Now will they answer EVERY question someone has about what's going on in this show? No. Many people think those two questions have to have the same answer, and honestly they don't. Here's what the real question you have to ask is: Was the experience of getting from the beginning of this series to its end worth my time? Sure the last episode may not be the greatest episode of television ever (though I am hopeful that it will be) but the experience of watching this show for 5 years, of experiencing these people grow, of forcing myself to think outside of the box, and debate what will happen with people was well worth my time. Who cares if my theories are wrong and even more fantastic than what ends up being true for the show? It was still a fun ride, and an experience I would never trade in for something else. This show has been an inspiration to me as a writer, and gotten me to think outside of the box in terms of long term story telling. Is this show for everyone? Nope. Its a great show, but I don't think everyone will like it. There are surely great shows out there that I'm not crazy about (for example: The X-Files. Sorry guys couldn't keep going after the first season. I could tell it was good, but not so much for me).

And you Chase?

CM: I just hope it wraps up on a storytelling level and I'm almost certain it will. I couldn't agree more about how the journey was the true experience with this show. Without LOST, my knowledge and fervor about television would probably have never been cultivated. It's because of this show that I am a TV junkie. I've learned so much about sci-fi, story structure, character development, cinematography, scoring, the production process and literary works and figures that I wouldn't have blinked an eye at 5 years ago. This question of whether the show will end satisfactory came up at my favorite forum (SSB!). One user was complaining about how if the show ends poorly (and he/she was leaning that way), it would only give credence to all the naysayers that have risen up against the show. What I basically said is that the show is still a marvel of television whether it ends well or not. The literary and pop culture references seamlessly blended, time-travel complicated yet accessible for network television, unknowns knocking characters out of the park, and a non-pandering universe with callbacks and minute details that are just as important as the present. All these things will keep the legacy of LOST in tact no matter if the ending blows. We may never again see a network program like LOST, but I hope we do.

Final thoughts?

BN: One of the big issues people have with this show seems to be whether or not Damon and Carlton and the rest of the writers have had this whole thing planned out from the start. People talk about how they have to be making things up as they go along and that they never had a master plan for where this series is going until recently. I can't believe that. Now, did they plan it out to the extent that character development and interactions were sacrificed for the sake of plot? Absolutely not.

Look at a show like FlashForward that has been meticulously planned out through its first season. The characters have taken a back seat to the story. Yeah the concept is cool, but if you don't care about the characters, then why would you give the least bit of care to this world they are living in? Why would you want them to succeed if you don't like them, or can't root for them?

With LOST, the relationships and character development has been natural. Sure they've taken some risks to varying degrees with where characters go (Charlie going a little loopy and maybe back on drugs in season 2 didn't work for me, though Sawyer and Juliet getting together in season 5 totally did).

One last note here because it kept me up last night thinking about it. Going back to the complaints about the Jacob/Man in Black feud. Like Chase, I don't think that you can play the card that they've only just introduced that element. From the beginning of the show there has been this overarching theme of good vs. evil. Light vs. darkness. Something that these two characters totally personify. Have we full on seen them for who they were until recently? Nope. Well, not Jacob at least. But from the beginning of season 3, his name has been synonymous with the mystical goings on of the island. Way back then, did the producers know he was going to be played by Mark Pelligrino? No. They didn't even know when they could end their series, and clearly Jacob plays a huge role in bringing this story to a close. Did they know that Jacob would be in a duel of sorts against some other entity on the island that was also the monster we had come to know and fear? I have to believe that. And likewise, I have to believe that they will have a great ending to this whole thing up their sleeve.

This show has been the experience of a lifetime, and I'm just on the viewing end. I can't wait to see where this all goes, and how they rap it up. Sure there have been some detours to Taiwan and an unfortunate Expose or two, but has it made the rest of the trip void? No. I'd wager it made it even better because we'll remember it for that, and how it forced the show to improve and become more of the show we need it to be. Or more so, the show that IT needs to be.

Chase?

CM: You've taken the type out from under my fingers. All I have left to say is that we'll all agree on one thing when this show is over: sadness. With this Tuesday's episode, we'l lbe a third of the way home and I can't wait to see the end, but it will be bittersweet. I have confidence though that it will be one of, if not the only, truly successful bow of a network television program.

So, there you have it. I'm not sure if we'll change anyone's opinion, but we just wanted it to be known where we stand. Have a great day/evening/night (depending on when you read this)!

You?! Us. [Smack]

2010-02-04T21:37:00.000-08:00

Chase and Brandon talk about video games, Oscars, and some crappy little show with a crappy little island and crappy little characters and cra...HOLY HECK AND A THIRD THEY HAVE FLASH SIDEWAYS?!!!!...LOST.

The Best of TV in 2009 (A Top Fifteen)

2010-01-05T23:10:00.000-08:00

So, it's a few days later than I wanted it to be, but here is my rundown of the 15 best TV shows from 2009. I had to make it 15 because narrowing it down to 10, like I had originally planned was way too difficult. If you know me at all, then you will probably be able to guess what number 1 will be. In the rundown, I'll focus on 2 specific episodes from this year. I think that's about it. Try to enjoy reading. I'll try to enjoy writing it.

15. THE OFFICE - Season 4 was something of a letdown after the masterpiece that was season 3, but seasons 5 and 6 have been a return to form for this great show. Late in the 5th, the norm was shaken up when Michael (and Pam) quit to form his own paper company. The result was shown in a multi-episode arc. "Michael Scott Paper Company" showed the beginnings of this short experiment, and office life for the new company staffed by Michael, Pam, and a newly returned Ryan (fresh off a stint from INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS). Obviously Michael's business ideas ended up failing, and he returned to Dunder Mifflin, but the time away was a breath of fresh air into the series. Then, 3 episodes into the current season ("Niagara"), Pam and Jim finally got married, and it was pretty fantastic. There were things you wouldn't expect (Jim, instead of Michael, letting slip that Pam is pregnant in front of her super conservative gandmother) and things you should have expected (the office mates in attendance recreated the wedding dance down the aisle set to "Forever" by Chris Brown). The episode was sweet, and Jim and Pam got their dream wedding, and the one everyone else was at.

14. PARKS AND RECREATION - Talk about a surprise. The first season hadn't really found its legs, and I only watched the pilot back in the spring. But season 2 found its legs and it has run wonderfully. I missed the first couple episodes, but I jumped in on "Practice Date", which saw Amy Poehler's Leslie going on a practice date, so she doesn't ruin her first date with new beau, Louis CK. She gets drunk and antics ensue. Also a hilarious running joke (that resurfaced in "Christmas Scandal") about a politician caught in repeated, and increasingly ridiculous sex scandals. Then, in "Ron and Tammy", Ron must face terrible ex-wife Tammy (played by Megan Mullally), who appears to want to get back together with him, but really is just utilizing their intense sex life together to get what she wants in the government.

13. EASTBOUND AND DOWN - Danny McBride is perfect at playing awful men of little celebrity, who think they deserve respect, when in fact they need a severe beating. In EASTBOUND, McBride plays a former pro baseball player, forced to move in with his brother's family when he hits rock bottom. He takes a job as a substitute gym teacher. He is predictably awful to the students, and expects his engaged high school girlfriend to jump right back into bed with him. "Chapter 4" shows the beginnings of his success in getting her back (though he has something of an accident) and really allows Stevie, a high school chum who worships everything about Kenny (McBride), to really shine. The final scenes of the episode allow McBride to truly shine, in facing the humiliating wreck that has become his life. Then, the season finale shows Kenny getting an offer from a the major leagues, his goal from the start. Things don't go as planned, and luckily we get a second season.

12. PARTY DOWN - This other premium channel comedy from last spring came as quite the surprise. The phrase "Are we having fun yet?" could be used to call out fans of this great workplace comedy in a crowd. The first half of the season was fairly self contained, and didn't feature much in the way of a building story (save a budding romance between Henry and Casey). The back half got even better, and funnier, and delved somewhat more deeply into the story. "Celebrate Rick Sargulesh" was one of the season's best. The staff has to cater a some party, that turns out to be a celebration for a mobster getting off the hook for murder. They learn this when Roman, the resident writer (who does more hard sci fi) reads the screenplay confession. Hilarious tension ensues. Then, in "James Rolfe High School Twentieth Reunion", staff leader, Ron decides it will be a good idea to cater his own high school's reunion. As often typical in situations when we are reunited with old social crowds, Ron faced symptoms of revertigo, and became his drunken party boy self. This led to a relaps into his alcoholism. But in a good, funny way.

11. DEXTER - I would call the 4th season of Dexter the second best (only behind season 2). This year had the excellent John Lithgow assuming the role of the season's big bad. Soon after Dexter's discovery of Lithgow as the Trinity Killer, he decides that he will try to emulate Trinity's ability to both sustain a family and kill people horrifically. In "Hungry Man" we see the true greatness and terror of Lithgow as Trinity in a densely tense Thanksgiving dinner with Trinity's family. A choice line firmly cements Dexter (and the viewer both) just how bad Trinity is. Then in the season finale, Dexter finally comes to an important realization about himself as a person, and then he (and the viewer) is given one final parting gift, that we will never forget. Definitely one of the best closing scenes for a season ever.

10. GLEE - Here's a show I originally thought would be a guilty pleasure, and turned into oh so much more. I can often point to a specific scene or moment in a series' run that elevates my desire to watch from casual to must see. That came in "The Rhodes Not Taken", an episode that did away with some plot developments that had a pretty obvious conclusion. The final scene of the episode featured the Glee kids singing Queen's "Somebody to Love". The combination of the terrible day I had nearly finished, and the tone of hope in the face of hopelessness, but when they hit that first note I was nearly in tears. The series definitely picked up momentum from there (save that awful pregnancy plotline). The midseason finale definitely closed out the main push from those first 13 episodes in style, and set up some fun things for the future of the season (and hopefully the series). One thing can be said for sure about this show (and you better believe I am shamelessly stealing something other people have said here): this show 's greatest moments are exponentially greater than its weakest, and allow you to forgive and forget (no matter how ill-conceived that fake pregnancy was).

9. FRINGE - This is a show (like many these days) that requires patience through the first few episodes before it really gets going. I will be one of this first to point out the flaws with procedurals, but Fringe is a series the combines really cool situations to investigate with an overall mythology that has really captivated me. Season 1 picked up a whole lot of momentum in its second half, and the episode "Ability" brought some really awesome ideas to the table. Plus it focused on the enigmatic Mr. Jones (played as enigmatic as always by Jared Harris) and his riddles for Olivia in trying to help her realize her potential. The season was brought to a satisfying close in "There's More Than One of Everything". Even though I knew how it was going to end, seeing it unfold was immensely satisfying, and still provided a sense of mystery. Season 2 has seen the show evolve and flourish creatively, but Fox's track record with awesome shows could be cause for concern. Whatever happens, it's been a fun ride, and I'm glad I finally got around to taking it.

8. PUSHING DAISIES - When ABC killed this series ahead of its time, I was just getting into season 1. The episodes that aired this year were just the last 3 the network was burning off in the summer, but as has always been the case with this series, they were quite satisfying. The unfortunate, forced conclusion to the season/series was completely tacked on, and it really makes you wish the series could have gone on. Actually everything about the show makes you wish it could have gone on. At least there's 22 episodes on DVD, and hopefully a comic series on the way (which can be great if the series is handled as well as it was on TV, like with Buffy Season 8). Also, this show totally makes you fall for a dead girl, and it isn't weird at all.

7. IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA - Intervention! Intervention! You need to be watching this show! That is, if you aren't easily offended. Most of the television comedies that I watch demonstrate some sort of character growth or poignancy. This one is nothing like that. If nothing, this series shows the characters becoming more degenerate by the minute. And I wouldn't have it any other way. In one of this extremely strong season's best episodes the gang stages an intervention for Frank (played disgustingly by Danny Devito), not because he has a drinking problem or a drug problem (they actually love his idea of putting box wine in Diet Coke cans both for hiding what your drinking and its ability to let you make violent hand gestures without spilling wine everywhere). No, they're upset that he isn't hanging out with them anymore because he's trying to get into bed with his recently widowed, dead wife's sister (which isn't a problem for them either; his hooking up with "Gail the Snail" on the other hand is cause for disgust). The season also gave us more examples of how Frank and Charlie live in "Mac and Dennis Break Up", and reveals some interesting new details about Charlie in general (cats have just started following him around now).

6. MODERN FAMILY - The best new show of the 2009-2010 season is easily ABC's Modern Family. This show easily helps me forgive ABC for canceling Pushing Daisies prematurely. The pilot was one of the best I've seen in a while, and the closing scene where the characters come together is brilliantly choreographed, and it set a precedent for the makeup of the series as it has continued. One of the strengths of this show is when it brings it's families together, and it was running on full cylinders in "Fizbo", where the family throws an outrageous birthday party for Luke. It ends in disaster, and one could worry that it wouldn't be worth seeing what happened (since the after commercials, the family begins congregating in the waiting room at the hospital), but the payoff was totally worth it, even though the buildup made it seem like it couldn't match the anticipation.

5. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER - Have you met Ted? Well, neither has the titular mother. Well, actually she sort of has, but we don't know who she is, or when they will finally meet, but it doesn't really matter. This show is all about growing up and leaving childhood behind, while making a family for yourself. It is very appropriate for a generation whose friends are more family than their actual families. Season 4 ended with the teaser that the titular mother would be in the first class Ted taught in college. This was the biggest revelation the show has given about who she would be, and made the energy going into season 5 very high. Though there hasn't been much more given up to this point, there have been some great episodes. In a sequel to the much loved "Slapsgiving", Marshall doled out the 4th in a series of 5 slaps to Barney at Thanks-sorry Slapsgiving. The episode was all about how family is something that must be earned, and isn't necessarily a right, as is often believed. Considering each season of the show is only 20 dollars at Target, you should get together with 3 other friends, each buy a season, and watch it together. The show is awesome. It's, oh, what's a good way to put it, oh yeah, I know! It's legen-wait for it-dary! Legendary!

4. DOLLHOUSE - Most fans of this show would tell you it took until episode 6 of season 1 for it to really get good, but I would wager it was really good from the start. It just got awesome on the 6th episode. The unaired finale to season 1, "Epitaph 1" was one of the most interesting hours of television ever. It was just too bad that it never aired on TV. The structure provided a sense of the future this show could have had if Fox allowed it to go on. That future was revisited (sort of) in the season 2 episode "The Attic". In the episode, we finally saw what the dreaded Attic actually was, and it set up an exciting situation within the Dollhouse. The fact that is ending is only made more upsetting by how awesome the status quo was set up to be in the wake of this episode. This show seems to be at its best when it is at its most experimental. The second season was also highlighted by both Fran Kranz's Topher (a character many hated early in season 1, but was given some serious depth) and Enver Gjokaj's Victor (he is easily the best actor on this show, and one of the best on television). I've come to terms with this show's termination, but it is nice to see such a brazenly original tale on TV. Or on film, really.

3. THE VENTURE BROS. - It is a pretty good sign for a series when I want to rewatch episodes every single day. This is a series that is so dense with jokes and mythology, it's ridiculous. The series could best be described as a loving parody of Johnny Quest, but it is oh so much more. The show is at its heart about failure, and how our lives are never as great as we though they would be. It's also hilarious. One of its best traits is how it takes super villains and effectively clips their wings with bureaucracy and odd rules, as organized by the Guild of Calamitous Intent. This season's "Revenge Society" continued on a plot thread from season 3's ORB, and brought an old villain back after a season where he was mainly seen in flashback. The titular society was a hilarious gag as it unfolded, and is worth watching the episode just to see who its members are. The Revenge Society was the only real competition we have seen for the Guild, and in a show like this, it is nice to see some competition other than between Arches and their Heroes. The midseason finale "Pinstripes and Poltergeists" featured the return of a character severely missed for most of the season, but once again the pay off made it worth the wait. I cannot recommend this series highly enough. It has room to be outrageous and poignant in the same breath, and it nails every bit of it.

2. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - All of this has happened before and all of this will happen again. Well, not really. The second half of the final season for this brilliant series started off almost as bleak as Cormac McCarthy's The Road. The series became more dire by the minute, and the odds piled up against the old Battlestar called Galactica, and its crew we have grown to love or hate (I'm looking at you Tom Zarek). The series finale was 3 hours long, and though the final hour was very divisive, the first 2 were definitely incredible (and for the record, I liked how the last hour tied things up). After the embodiment of future life in the universe was stolen, and the Galactica was growing more and more crippled, a suicide mission was hatched (as so often is in stories like this). The second part detailed said suicide mission, and it was one of the coolest sequences this great show, with no shortage of cool sequences has ever had. My excitement was at an all time high as I watched humanity (and some Cylon allies) battle with the evil Cylons. Sure there was a sci fi exterior to this show, but the stories were very grounded in reality, and the resonance of the 9/11-like tragedy that set the series in motion still haunts those who would treat themselves with picking up this masterpiece of a series.

1. LOST - This show is the best on television. It changed the landscape of storytelling for TV and made it impossible for a new sci fi show to live up to its success. The pilot alone has been unmatched in setting up a story. It has been noted by many fans how the seasons have paralleled one another. Season 3 synced up nicely with season 4, and season 2 and season 5 shared a huge similarity: both were the most sci fi seasons of the series. Sure the other seasons had their elements of sci fi, but season 1 largely hid its sci fi cards. Season 5 of LOST was a huge achievement, though. It was easily the most mainstream telling of a time travel story since Back to the Future. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban doesn't count because that was fantasy. There's a difference! Get off my back! Anyway, as LOST has progressed, its seasons have only gotten better. Honestly, because the 2009 season flowed so well together, it would behard to discuss a single episode. It is good to mention that the 100th episode of the series aired with "The Variable", a Daniel Faraday centric episode that revealed some things we had guessed as true, and also had some great excitement and surprises. Also, the season finale changed the game for this series in a way I have never seen on TV before. The season 5 finale stacks right up there with ending season 1 with Jack and Locke looking into the Hatch, but not showing what's inside, but it's cool, because its all going to end with season 6, and it will be incredible. I feel like I'm rambling some here, and my excitement over this show just keeps building, so, I will stop here.

Here endeth the lesson. And 2009 in review.

2009 in Film: Top 10, Bottom 5, and some Superlatives

2009-12-30T22:01:00.000-08:00

Greetings everyone! The year is ending, and if memory serves, I believe some movies came out this year. There were some great and some awful. Unfortunately I don't have the budget to see every movie that comes out in a given year, so you'll have to settle with my response to the movies that called out to me, and then I liked (or disliked). I wanted to come up with more witty things to say here before I get into my list, but for the life of me I can't. And I call myself a writer? Oh well. Let's get into it!

THE TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2009

10. THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX - Wes Anderson plays his hand at an animated movie, and he definitely gets it right. A winning voice cast, and Anderson's quirky style of film making really complimented each other to make this one of the better movies of the year, and qualified to stand among his other films.

9. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER - An innovative telling of Hollywood love stories is handled beautifully in this indie hit. Joseph Gordon Levitt grounds this story that details his romantic involvement with the indie hipster's fantasy girl incarnate in Zoey Deschannel. The movie is fun and depressing simultaneously in a wonderful scene that depicts expectations vs. reality at a party.

8. STAR TREK - JJ Abrams continues to dominate everything sci-fi that he does. His brand is flashy and mainstream, but it makes it no less great. A winning cast, and Abrams' love of the material help this franchise reboot kick off the summer in an awesome way. The highlight of the movie comes in the form of Simon Pegg's entrance as Scotty in the last third. Solid effects + fun story = an awesome ride.

7. BIG FAN - Patton Oswalt delivers the performance of his career in this movie about the religion of sports. Oswalt plays a devoted Giants fan who is assaulted by his favorite player (and the team's star) when he decides to stalk the man to a nightclub. After that, his family tries to convince him to press charges, and get some sort of monetary reparations for the wrongs.

6. MOON - A brilliant sci-fi story that concerns itself with its twist, but gives it up in the first half hour. The movie then spends the hour after deconstructing that twist and dealing with its implications to protagonist, Sam Rockwell. Rockwell grounds this movie, and shows his charisma as a leading man.

5. UP IN THE AIR - George Clooney plays a man who lives his life in constant motion so he never has to make any human connections. He doesn't want baggage holding him down, and his job creates an environment that allows for such a lifestyle. The movie is similar to Jason Reitman's fantastic THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, in that it focuses heavily on one character with a slanted view of the world, and uses his interactions with smaller characters throughout to guide him on a path of self discovery. The film plays both beautifully and tragically, and is definitely worth seeing.

4. ZOMBIELAND - This was one of the most purely entertaining movies I have ever seen. Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg star in this buddy-road-trip-zombie-coming-of-age-apocalypse-romance-family-comedy. You would think that with so many descriptors that the film makers were trying to cater to everyone, but there is no way that could be the case. The movie is just straight up fun, and sometimes that is all you need.

3. UP - I cry every time I've watched this movie. Both heartbreaking and inspiring this movie deserves all the praise it has been given. Honestly, when I first heard what this movie would be about, and even saw trailers for it, I thought Pixar had made its first failure. But that was so not the case. It took people seeing it and talking abut how great it was to get me to be interested, but I have not looked back since. This is one of the most original movies ever, and the fact that it is catered to kids, and is actually good, really proves that you don't have to pander or condescend to get children into a movie. I'm lookin at you OLD DOGS.

2. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS - Quentin Tarantino gives his ridiculous revision of World War II, and it is one of the most spellbinding stories ever put to film. An opening scene that spans a whopping 30 minutes, sets up this fantastic tale. Brad Pitt drives the point that he does some of his best work as bit characters (a la SNATCH, 12 MONKEYS), and Christoph Waltz absolutely steals the show as the Jew Hunter. That man needs an Oscar for his work. And Tarantino continues to inspire the praise and criticism that has followed him for his whole career. This is to WWII movies what PULP FICTION is to crime dramas.

1. DISTRICT 9 - This has been a good year for Science Fiction, first of all. There has been some truly fantastic tales woven using its particular lens, and DISTRICT 9 is one of the best examples of this. Set in South Africa, this movie spends the first 20 minutes dropping exposition on what has happened in the area, but the way it is presented is what makes it work so well. Presented partially as a documentary about aliens coming to rest in Johannesburg, the film sets up a story about the aliens trying to go home, and one man who becomes a social pariah. If you have any sort of interest in film, then you absolutely must watch this one. The story is really original for a film that also shows the level of innovation on display here. This movie promises to be the first in a promising career for director Neill Blomkamp.

Honorable Mentions: CORALINE, THE HANGOVER, OBSERVE AND REPORT

THE 5 WORST MOVIES OF 2009

5. PUSH - This was actually better than anticipated though it just ended without warning.

4. HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU - Maybe I'm just not that into this movie, but it totally sucked. I have no idea why anyone liked it.

3. X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE - This movie could have been good, but for some reason they decided to make it suck instead.

2. DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION - This movie slowly evolved into a mess of a story. Wait, not slowly, it was pretty quick.

1. STREET FIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN-LI - Slow, light on action, and just plain stupid. You would think that a movie with the word "Fighter" in the title (or one based on an action video game) would have more action in it. You'd be wrong. This was just painful to watch.

SUPERLATIVES!

MOST UNDERRATED: JENNIFER'S BODY - I can understand that people didn't like this, but I have to wonder what was expected. Sure for being a horror comedy, it didn't nearly measure up to the likes of EVIL DEAD II, ZOMBIELAND, or SHAUN OF THE DEAD, but it was still an interesting ride. I had no idea what was going to happen next as this movie progressed, and these days that is important. Sure it had its flaws, and somehow Megan Fox was more terrifying than attractive, but it was still enjoyable.

MOST OVERRATED: BRUNO - The movie started off funny. Then it just repeated its main joke over and over, in the same exact way, and stopped being funny. It would be like if someone made a joke about guys wearing skinny jeans. And then told the same joke in an accent, and then told it again, but embellished some details, and then told it the original way again. I just did not get why people enjoyed this one as much as they did.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE - As stated earlier, this movie could have been good. It could have been a period movie set during Wolverine's early days, when he first discovers his abilities. Or they could have done a whole movie where he fights in war after war, and learns about what kind of manimal he is. Anything would have been better than this. Plus they ruined perfectly great characters (Deadpool) and completely discounted their own continuity from the previous X-MEN movies.

BIGGEST SURPRISE: DISTRICT 9 - I said a whole lot about this one back in my best of write up, but for a movie that I had never even known about 2 months before its release, this thing came out of nowhere and kicked me in the face. And I loved every moment of it. The teaser trailer alone made this must see for me, and I'm glad it paid off. Other contenders for this award were UP and ZOMBIELAND.

Stay tuned for my best of TV tomorrow (hopefully).

Here endeth the lesson.

The Best 10 Comics of 2009

2009-12-29T22:00:00.000-08:00

Let me start off by saying that I am not cool enough to read any indie comics. I love the mainstream. Sure it has its big events and gimmicks, but that doesn't detract from the quality. Especially these days. Now, I don't really expect many of you to have much context for names like Ed Brubaker, Brian Michael Bendis, or Geoff Johns, I would like to hope that my recommendation of and vouching for their writing would inspire you to go out and pick up their series. Or at least the ones that I point you in the direction of.

This thing is basically going to be a rundown of the story lines that have really grabbed and captivated me this year. Some of them may have started last year, but they had to have released issues in 2009 to qualify. The numberings are important, but largely inconsequential. That's mainly because some of these series are so good that it would be incredibly difficult to say that one is better than another.

Alright, enough rambling, let's get into it.

1. INVINCIBLE IRON MAN: "WORLD'S MOST WANTED" (#8-19) - This storyline helped kicked off the "Dark Reign" that shaped the direction of the Marvel Universe this year. Matt Fraction (writing) and Salvadore Larroca (art) continued their run with Iron Man in style. This story could have easily started to drag near the middle, but it only continued to pick up speed. The story dealt with Norman Osborne trying to track down Tony Stark to retrieve the database of registered superheroes (housed in Tony's brain thanks to EXTREMIS tech) while Tony raced to delete it. Yeah, he was trying to delete his own brain. This arc led directly to the current arc, and it has been one hell of a ride. The story is collected in 2 volumes, and should be fairly easy to find. If nothing else, this will help you get more in touch with Tony Stark before IRON MAN 2 comes out in May.

2. DARK AVENGERS: "ASSEMBLE" (#1-6) - The other major storyline that started "Dark Reign" focused on the first mission of a new team of Avengers in the Marvel U. (That would bring the total to 4, plus the Initiative.) The series is written by Brian Michael Bendis, with art by Mike Deodato. Having been painted as the savior of humanity in the end of the Skrull Invasion, Norman Osborne disbanded SHIELD, and founded HAMMER. The first issue humorously deals with the fact that HAMMER means nothing. It is just another way for Osborne to intimidate those who won't play by his rules. Keeping in line with this mentality, he puts together his own team of Avengers, that includes both heroes and villains alike. But mostly villains. Some faces are more familiar than others, but they make up an interesting team, to say the least.

3. UMBRELLA ACADEMY: "DALLAS" (#1-6) - This fantastic series comes from Gerard Way, lead singer of My Chemical Romance. This story follows the events of "Apocalypse Suite", the first arc in this series. Certainly a better story, it delves more into what makes these characters tick, and how broken they are. Also it features time travel, the Vietnam War, and the assassination of JFK (both preventing and ensuring it happen). The story has many twists and turns, but it all really boils down to the characters, as all great stories do. This series is one big reason why I believe that comic books should be seen as literary works.

4. SECRET WARRIORS: "NICK FURY: AGENT OF NOTHING" (#1-6) - This was one of the first series that i picked up, and continued to read regularly. Back in March, I was trying to find some series I could get in to, and this had a first issue recently out, so I decided to give it a try. I have not looked back since. Jonathan Hickman writes an extremely exciting series that follows a, you guessed it, secret team put together by Nick Fury, the bad ass to end all bad asses. Even having little to no clue who many of the characters were in the beginning, I was still able to get both excited and worried about the entrances of characters into the story. It is absolutely worth your reading, and is an extremely fun read.

5. INCOGNITO (#1-6) - Imagine the hero of your story was a horrible, horrible person, and it was not done in the charming and funny way that DR. HORRIBLE'S SING-ALONG BLOG. Imagine you were rooting for a mass murderer, who didn't have a past of just killing bad guys, the way that Dexter Morgan does. This is the general idea of INCOGNITO, ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' super-"hero" story, from Marvel's Icon imprint. This story was so entertaining and captivating that it really cemented Ed Brubaker as one of my favorite comic writers. Basically, the story follows Zack Overkill, a former super villain, who was placed in witness protection when his twin brother was killed by their former employer. The series is a fun ride, that certainly highlights Brubaker's skill as a crime fiction writer. It is especially fun to see the emergence of a hero beccause the protagonist was just bored, and it wouldn't draw as much attention to him as villainy.

6. CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN (CAPTAIN AMERICA #600, CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #1-6, WHO WILL WIELD THE SHIELD? #1) - If you are kind of person that can get around the scheduling snafus and the way that Marvel just full on spoiled the ending to this great story, then you can really enjoy the story presented by Ed Brubaker, firmly ending his "Death of Captain America" story. I'm the kind of person that can. The final issue of Reborn still hasn't come out, but "Who Will Wield the Shield?" has, but it don't matter. Once again, I love Ed Brubaker and what he is doing at Marvel. Captain America is the biggest title for the company that he is doing, and he definitely has a handle for the characters. The story began over the summer with Captain America # 600, one of the landmark issues that Marvel has been putting out this year, which have returned many series to their original numbering. It has been quite the ride, and I am excited to see how it turned out, or at least what allowed it to turn out the way it did.

7. BLACKEST NIGHT (BLACKEST NIGHT #1-8, GREEN LANTERN #43-51, GREEN LANTERN CORPS #38-45) - The big event running over at DC wass advertised with the tagline "The Dead Will Rise." And rise they did. This even got me to start reading Green Lantern, one of DC's most promising series. Geoff Johns is now 49 issues into his run on Green Lantern, and it is not even coming close to running out of steam. The core Blackest Night title only benefits from the stories told in Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps. If nothing else, this could serve as a great jumping on point for getting to know Hal Jordan, to prepare for summer 2011's film starring Ryan Reynolds.

8. BATMAN & ROBIN: "BATMAN REBORN" (#1-3) - Apparently Grant Morrison wanted shorter, punchier arcs to run through his Batman & Robin series. This first arc, following in the wake of "Batman RIP" and "Battle for the Cowl" which ultimately resulted in Dick Grayson taking up the mantle of the Dark Knight, and Bruce Wayne's son Damien becoming the new Robin. This first arc is extremely weird, but extremely entertaining. I had heard all sorts of bad things about what DC has been doing recently, but this series has given me the faith to start giving at least 3 bucks a month to the publisher. The dark and violent story perfectly sets up what is to come for Batman, and is essential reading, even over the solo Batman title.

9. SECRET WARRIORS: "GOD OF FEAR, GOD OF WAR" (#7-10) - Continuing from his promising initial arc, Jonathan Hickman continues chronicling Nick Fury's secret team, this time giving focus to God of Fear, Phobos, and the reaction of his God of War father, Ares, when he discovers that Fury has essentially kidnapped Phobos. The story goes more into the Dark Reign territory, making it less accessible than the former arc, but still an entertaining read. If nothing else, the reveal in issue 8 makes it well worth being on this list. It made me exclaim in surprise in a crowded area, which takes some doing.

10. FANTASTIC FOUR: "SOLVE EVERYTHING" (#570-572) - Oh look, another Jonathan Hickman arc. Fantastic 4 was another series I had some strong feelings against before starting. The premise could easily be seen as getting pretty lame, and covering the same ground over and over again. But somehow, Hickman made this series aa must read. In this first arc, he takes Reed Richards to a place where he has a decision to make between trying to solve all the world's problems, or losing his family. Richards is the smartest man on earth, or at least one of them, and this choice is difficult to make, but his decision will certainly resonate through the course of Hickman's run.

Stay tuned tomorrow night for my breakdown of TV in 2009.

Here endeth the lesson.

We're Back! A Dinosaur Story

2009-12-12T16:08:00.000-08:00

Chase & Brandon take a very specific look back at television in 2009. And there might be some film action. That sounds dirty. But not really. Ok, yes.

The (New and Improved!) BKteN #1: 9/21-9/27

2009-09-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Every week my world is rocked by many things. Here's a sample of what you should be checking out!

Since this is new to WWJW, here's the deal: This is essentially a Top 10 list of things I read or watched or something in the previous week. The assumption being on things like TV shows and comic series that you are up to date on them, minus the episode/issue I am talking about, which I will try to keep relatively spoiler free. But say you have not caught up on DEXTER or DOLLHOUSE yet, you may want to wait to read my little blurbs about them until after. So, here we go!

1. DAREDEVIL: GOLDEN AGE - Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev continue their top notch run on DAREDEVIL with this arc, consisting of issues 66-70. I was able to pick this up on the cheap this week since Great Escape is having a 50% off back issues sale. The story deals with the Kingpin of Hell's Kitchen before Wilson Fisk, and what happens when he gets out of jail and sets his sights on Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil. The art work here is fantastic, with the flashbacks either being shown in black and white to showcase Bont's rise and classic 70's style art for Bont's fall (at Daredevil's hands). The story is interesting, and Bendis unfolds it in a very interesting manner, which makes it that much more fun to read. Great stuff, but it is still no KING OF HELL'S KITCHEN.

2. SPIDER-WOMAN #1 - Continuing with the Bendis/Maleev creative team is the new series that has been in development for a very long time. The series would have been better placed after the Skrull Invasion, since it deals most directly with its aftermath, but the art here is beautiful. Also of note: this issue's release was a month after the motion comic of the same story was released by Marvel. They are trying new things for the digital age, and that is to be commended, but I think this story works best as a print version. It looks fantastic, and the cover is just beautiful.

3. DOLLHOUSE: VOWS - DOLLHOUSE is back! And I finally love Topher! The scenes between Topher and Dr. Saunders/Whiskey are fantastic, and showcase some of the best writing this show has seen. It makes me sad that Amy Acker is only available for 3 episodes this season. It was also fun to see a mini Battlestar Galactica reunion between Tamoh Penikett and guest star Jamie Bamber. And speaking of mini reunions, I hope that when Amy Acker returns we can see a meeting between her and Alexis Denisof's senator who is trying to expose the Dollhouse. The season is off to a rocking start, even if the Echo story was not the highlight. But I think, that will become commonplace as the series goes. It is clearly an ensemble piece, and it will be awesome to see it become more of that (if Fox doesn't cut its life prematurely short).

4. DEXTER: LIVING THE DREAM - Running with season premieres, DEXTER also started up this week, and me oh my. Two highlights for me in this first hour of the season. 1. Agent Lundy is back, though I hope that doesn't reopen that awkward romance that it brought into play back in season 2. That was a strong season, and I really do like this character, so I am excited to see how they work him back into the story. 2. I love love love that they show the big serial killer right off the bat. It is a very cool creative direction to run with this idea, and it will be cool to see how things function when the audience is not having to guess whether or not a random guest star will become our Trinity Killer. This show consistently surprises me with the directions it takes, so here's to seeing where this season takes us!

5. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER: DEFINITIONS - This episode was just very clever. First there was the story of Robin and Barney dating, and how their relationship looks in the early stages. It is fun to see the two of them dance around giving their relationship some sort of definition. (Who doesn't know someone who just didn't want to put a label on their relationship?) Then there was the whole sequence of Ted teaching his first college class, and trying to figure out what sort of teacher he would be. On top of that, we know that the titular mother would be in his class. And the twist on how his first class went was great (even though I somehow managed to spoil it for myself). This critically loved, publicly underappreciated traditional sitcom is back and I am glad to have it in my life again.

6. THE INFORMANT! - First of all, this wasn't exactly as funny as I expected. The movie is good, but you see it for Matt Damon's performance. He did such a fantastic job. The only way for me to really talk about this movie would be to overwhelmingly spoil it, which I will not do, so I can only tell you to go see it. It is good stuff.

7. GLEE: PREGGERS - Here's a show I thought would be a guilty pleasure, annd has just turned into an absolute delight. The musical numbers are great, the acting is great, it is funny. There is so much to love here, if you are not watching, I have no idea why not. This week played up "Single Ladies" in a big way. It was especially fun to see a football team doing the dance to that song. This is a totally fun show, that is admittedly still trying to find its way, but it is doing a great job. Here's to hoping it doesn't decline in quality as the series progresses, as the creator's other shows have been known to do.

8. TRUE LIES - Definitely more along the lines of an action/comedy like HOT FUZZ, TROPIC THUNDER, or PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, than say BAD BOYS or RUSH HOUR. This is a comedy made by a director who loves action movies (James Cameron). The cast is fun, and it is interesting to see a pre-Buffy Eliza Dushku acting as Arnold Schwarzenegger's daughter. The movie unfolds well, and the pacing works. It is surprising that it goes for nearly 2.5 hours, but it is handled well. Cameron knows what he is doing here, and the stunts are fantastic, even if some do look a slight bit dated. But what can you do? Get over it. That's what.

9. ALIEN RESURRECTION - Joss Whedon wrote this movie, which is what made me excited to see it. Watching this last week allowed me to complete the ALIEN series (minus the AVP garbage that's out there). The movie has its problems, sure, but it is still a fun watch. The Newborn is creepy as all get out, though. The action is well handled, and it is definitely superior to ALIEN 3. Sure it isn't perfect, but that is what happens when Joss Whedon does not direct a JOSS WHEDON movie (see BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER the movie). It's no SERINITY or DR. HORRIBLE, but it will definitely do.

10. THE MODERN FAMILY: PILOT - This has got to have been the biggest surprise for me this TV season (so far, I guess). This pilot surprised me so much. I don't even want to give anything away to you. Just go watch it and see for yourself. It is on ABC.com and HULU, so you really don't have much of an excuse. Go, watch. You're welcome.

Here endeth the lesson.

Fall 2009 Television Preview

2009-09-12T15:52:00.000-07:00

Chase & Brandon take a look at what's ahead for television addicts this fall.

Getting To Know You: BETTER OFF TED

2009-09-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

I don’t know about you, but when I began to see the promos for BETTER OFF TED run when LOST’s fifth season began, I was practically insulted. Not only did it look unfunny, but also it seemed smug and too eager. I made a not eto myself to ignore it and move on even when AV Club gave the pilot an “A-“. Plus, ABC never gives its comedies a chance and I was not about to invest my precious time in a lame duck. Well, ladies and gentlemen, if you haven’t figured it out by now since I’m doing a GTKY on this show, I was wrong.

BOT takes place at the fictional corporate giant Veridian Dynamics. Our protagonist, Ted Crisp, is the head of R&D at Veridian and also a single father. Everybody loves Ted due to his work ethic and genial air. He serves as a mediator between his staff and his boss, Veronica Palmer. Veronica is a stone, always thinking about the company and never letting an emotion cross her face. Rounding out the rest of the small cast are Phil and Lem, two nebbish scientists, and Linda, the romantic foil to Ted.

Yes, it all sounds simple enough and pretty standard. Phil and Lem are bumbling scientists with a lack in social skills, Linda and Ted play “will-they-won’t-they” games, and Ted has a cute daughter who offers advice. But beneath some of these typical sitcom trappings, lies a show that is way too funny. Think if THE OFFICE dated 30 ROCK and was seeing ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT on the side. A workplace comedy with zaniness abound. I will say that BOT is absurd but it stays grounded in reality (most of the time), yet it goes for broke more times than not. The writing is extremely clever and you might have to watch it with subtitles to catch everything.

Having only five real characters to work with plays to the shows advantage. Unlike THE OFFICE, there are no secondary characters to soak up screen time. Instead, we get tighter stories focused on the people we want to see. Phil and Lem are an absolute scream together. Andrea Anders is hilarious as Linda, which is a breath of fresh air because normally the romantic interest is always pretty boring in comedy. Portia de Rossi (AD’s Lindsay Bluth) gives Veronica’s lines a double punch in that you know she is completely serious saying the most bizarre things. Really, the least interesting character is Ted, but he serves as the grounding humanity on the show.

Another thing that makes this universe so much fun is Veridian Dynamics itself. Each episode contains one commercial for the company that relates to the theme of the episode and it is always a slam-dunk. The oft-mentioned experiments and projects that the characters reference makes you yearn for more information. For an example of the wit in this show, check out this commercial from Veridian responding to Obama’s preemption of BOT.

The show was pulled from the schedule in early May after a mere seven episodes out of thirteen aired. Nobody thought it would be coming back. ABC then renewed the show for an 18-episode second season and showed the rest of the first this summer. It’s not out on DVD yet but you can find season one online somewhere. BOT will return in January 2010, so I suggest you get on board with Veridian before then.

- Chase

Technically, Summer Is Only 93 Days

2009-08-27T21:27:00.000-07:00

It's time to wrap up that summer. And no, do not wrap up Zooey.

Canines, Brides & Nah-zis: A Look At Quentin Tarantino

2009-08-21T16:57:00.000-07:00

Brandon & Chase delve into the works of Quentin Tarantino. What they find is sure to be pulpy.

Don't Judge a Book by its Medium

2009-07-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

by Brandon K Norman

So, I have been wanting to write this up for some time now, just on my own, and now that Chase and I have you all as our captive audience, I figured this would be as good an opportunity as any to throw down some knowledge and help you all become nerds like me. I have already gotten to Chase, and I am willing to wait patiently as more people slowly convert. You will give in. And you will enjoy it.

One of the areas we are going to cover regularly (and by "we", I primarily mean "I") here will be comic books. And as such, I would love it if more of you read comics, so you can know what I am talking about in this regard. That was way more wordy and awkwardly put together than necessary, and I apologize.

Anyway, I wanted to take some time to give you a rundown of 10 books that you can (and should) read to help break into reading comic books regularly. (I'm not going to say WATCHMEN because everyone says that one. Everyone already knows it was groundbreaking and phenomenal and they made a movie that is not nearly as good as the book.) I am going to cover some different genres ("comic book" is a medium and not a genre), but I love superhero stories, so, my bias will have to be noted there. That's what I mainly read. Also, before I jump into telling you about the ten, I want to drop some knowledge that can make you sound smarter to your friends who think they are well informed. It is more of a vocabulary lesson as to what to call these books because so many people get it wrong, in an effort to try to sound intelligent.

Vocabulary Lesson

FLOPPY - This is what people call an individual comic issue. In a typical series these will come out once a month, and several of these make up a story arc.

TRADE PAPERBACK - A collected book of a story arc in a comic series. This could also hold a comic mini-series. People often tend to incorrectly call this a...

GRAPHIC NOVEL - A graphic novel is actually a book that was released, in its entirety in a book form, and only in that format. People refer to WATCHMEN, V FOR VENDETTA, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, and typically any other trade paperback (or hardcover edition of a story arc or mini-series) as a graphic novel. And that is incorrect. "WATCHMEN is not the most celebrated graphic novel of all time," as some would say it, is totally incorrect. Said correctly, one would say, "WATCHMEN is the most celebrated comic mini-series of all time."

Sorry to go on a rant there, but I get tired of trying to explain it. You don't sound less intelligent if you don't say graphic novel. If you think you do, then you're just insecure. I used to be. I got over it. There is no shame in reading comic books.

Now, onto the list!

The Ten

1. THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS by Frank Miller - So, right off the bat I'm going to put one on the list that everyone says you should read. I feel like I have to throw this one on the list (even though I said I would be abstaining from that with not saying WATCHMEN) because it was the first comic story I read that seriously got me into the medium. The story centers around a 40 year-old Bruce Wayne who is struggling with the decay of his city, and decides to don the Batman uniform once more. The pacing of this story is fantastic, and with having a very limited knowledge of the Batman universe, it is very easy to get into. Also, there is an awesome fight between Batman and Superman near the end that just goes to show you how bad ass Batman is. You should be able to read this in one sitting fairly easily, seeing as it is only 4 issues long, and it should be available in most bookstores like Borders or Barnes & Noble (so you can sit down in the store and just read through it).

2. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN: POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley - This story kick started Marvel's Ultimate Universe. Basically with this series, they took the Spider-man story, and re-imagined it, for the 21st century. Peter Parker is once again in high school, having to deal with all of that jazz, when he is bitten by a genetically altered spider, an is given superpowers that are very spider-like. The book is a fun read, and Bendis' writing is clearly on display here. He has a very witty way with dialogue, and he really gets to the heart of his characters (as he has shown in his run on DAREDEVIL). This should also be a fairly easy find in most bookstores.

3. DAREDEVIL: GUARDIAN DEVIL by Kevin Smith and Joe Quesada - If you are wondering, yes it is THAT Kevin Smith. Also, an interesting tidbit here, Joe Quesada, the artist on this one, is Marvel's editor-in-chief. Anyway, moving along here. Daredevil is the character that all the writers over at Marvel want to work on because he has the most depth. This story sets Daredevil in motion for some interesting stories (told by Brian Michael Bendis down the line) and is definitely worth checking out. If nothing else, it is good for Kevin Smith fans because he has some killer dialogue (no surprise there) and the story is interesting as well. In a nutshell it is about a possible virgin birth and protecting the baby. Intrigued? Good. The problem here is that I have never seen this in a bookstore, though it is on Amazon, and some progressive libraries may have a copy on hand.

4. Y: THE LAST MAN by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra - This series is not a superhero story. It is a sci fi story, in the sense that there was a science fiction type event that set the story in motion. But really this is about the characters embarking on a journey, and developing. It is sci fi in the same way that LOST is sci fi. Also, Brian K Vaughan has been a writer on LOST for the past 3 seasons, though he will not be around for season 6. The story is about Yorick Brown, the last living male mammal (along with his pet monkey Ampersand) and his trek aross America (and then some) to find out why he didn't die in the "gendercide" and then later to find his girlfriend in Austrailia. The story is only 60 issues long, and is very readable. All 10 trades of this one are available in bookstores, and this is absolutely worth checking out.

5. THE WALKING DEAD by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore/Charlie Adlard - For those of you who enjoy horror or zombies, this one is for you. Thie starts very much like 28 DAYS LATER and then continues on its own path. Sure there are typical zombie story tropes, but this story is a really entertaining read, and it is nice to know that the integrity of the story is not based around needing to keep a character alive because of a larger universe. Nobody is safe here. I am only about 17 issues into this, but it is a good read. They should have all the trades so far in this series available in bookstores.

6. THE GOON by Eric Powell - Written by Tennessee native, Eric Powell, this may be one of my favorite comic stories, period. The series starts with a more light-hearted tone, but as it progresses, things start to become somewhat more serious. As this happens, everything gets better. The beginning is much more on the side of comedy with other elements thrown in. As it progresses, you start to see the heroic journey of Goon. In a nutshell, there is this guy known only as "Goon" who, after a mob boss kills his aunt/caretaker, he kills the boss and takes over his crime family. And he is only a teenager. Later, a nameless man shows up and begins creating a zombie army that forms another crime syndicate of sorts in the city. The Goon tries his best to protect the city. There are many other characters in the story, but you should try to discover it for yourself. The books should be easy enough to find in comic stores, but in normal bookstores, there will be a bit more trouble. Amazon is also a good looking place.

7. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 8 by Joss Whedon and others - This is in here because if you watched Buffy, or have any intention of watching that series in the future, this series does a fantastic job of picking up the story and carrying it on. It really will mainly appeal to Buffy fans, but I wanted to throw it in because if you are a fan, then it is a great point to get into the medium from.

8. CRIMINAL by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips - There are 4 books in this series so far, and I have only been able to read one, but let it be known that Ed Brubaker is one of the finest comic book writers around. He has a commanding knowledge and understanding over the crime drama genre, and it is on full display in this series. Ed Brubaker is also the one responsible for killing Captain America, and event that garnered attention from the mainstream news. Basically, this is worth checking out because if you want fantastic writing in comics, that has nothing to do with superheroes, this is your series. Also, you can pick up any of the books because they do not follow an overall story. Each story arc may have characters that carry over, but in the long run, the stories are highly stand alone, which makes this highly accessible to new readers to the medium.

9. THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: APOCALYPSE SUITE by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba - Let me preface this by first saying that the series has won the Eisner (comics' highest award) for best limited series. Other winners appear on this list in other categories, like THE GOON, Y: THE LAST MAN, and CRIMINAL. This series is phenomenal. It is one of the most enjoyable stories I have ever read. That all being said, many of you will probably be turned away by what I am about to say next. Please don't be. It was written and created by Gerard Way. You may recognize his name. He's the lead singer from My Chemical Romance. True I love their music. Many people don't. Not an issue here. This is one of the most imaginative and well thought-out stories I have read. Just go check it out. It will be in most bookstores.

10. THE SANDMAN: PRELUDES AND NOCTURNES by Neil Gaiman - Neil Gaiman also wrote the book that CORALINE was adapted from. So there shouls be a draw. PRELUDES AND NOCTURNES is the first book in the series of 10 that tells the story of Morpheus, Dream of the Endless. Here's a rundown: The endless are 7 beings that embody a certain aspect of humanity. In order of ther creation (and age) they are Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction, Desire and Despair (twins), and Delirium (formerly Delight). They each rule over a realm that embodies their aspect. This is one of the most interesting and epic stories I have read. The story really deals with Dream growing up, and making his own destiny. His realm is very interesting as well because it is not just dreams we have while sleeping that he oversees, but also includes stories, which could probably help you understand why I love this so much. It will take time to read, but in the long run, this story is totally worth it.

If you are interested in looking up any other stories, such as ongoing series or superhero stories, Wikipedia is a great resource for checking that stuff out in a short amount of time. I'd recommend it. And I hope I have drawn you into my interest.

Getting to Know You: DEXTER

2009-07-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

by Brandon K Norman

Last week I finally got around to watching this Showtime series about a serial killer, who also happens to work for the forensics department in the Miami Police Department. No, I'm not talking about KATH & KIM. I am speaking of DEXTER. The show is based on characters created in the book series begun with DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER written by Jeff Lindsay.

I have only watched the first 12 episode season, so that's where my focus is going to be directed with this piece.

First things first: the sheer number of television shows I have started to watch in the wake of LOST and ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT has really given me notice of the immense wealth of talent in actors on TV, and this show does not disappoint. The real center of the show is the titular character, one Dexter Morgan. Dexter is played with an unusual likability (for a serial killer, at least) by Michael C. Hall. One of the most unexpected elements to this character is the wealth of humor that he displays. The writers are so in touch with the character, that Hall is able to in turn get in touch with him, and really create a familiarity that seems several seasons worth.

Here's the deal with Dexter: He was adopted by a police officer (Harry Morgan) after some traumatic incident (no spoilers here, but you find out what it was, and it's twisted). This incident has left him a hollow shell of a person who is forced to fake human interactions and normal responses. What is very interesting is that Dexter is way more human than he gives himself credit for. His reactions at points do seem like those of a person who is emotionally invested in the lives of those around him, despite what he would like to think.

The supporting cast provides a great dynamic to Dexter, and really allows him to display his humanity (and sometimes lack thereof. As he narrates it, he is his own kind of monster). There is his foul mouthed, totally babe-alicious adopted sister Debra, played by Jennifer Carpenter. If Dexter could feel something for a person, it would be her, as he says it. Julie Benz (who I knew first as the school girl vampire from BUFFY and ANGEL) does a fantastic job as Rita, the emotionally damaged "single" mother. (Also in a neat turn, her abusive husband is played by Mark Pellegrino who you may recognize as the enigmatic Jacob on LOST). There is also Doakes and Laguerta as antagonistic police officers. The hot headed Doakes hates Dexter, and is the only person suspicious of him, but he has a strong bond (maybe romantic?) with Debra. Then Ed Exley-like Laguerta seems to have the hotts for Dexter, but hates Debra, so it is hard to like her. Also, rounding out the cast is Angel Batista as another forensics investigator, who is very likable, and tragic when we get into his story. Finally, there is Harry Morgan, as seen in flashbacks (cause he dead!) teaching Dexter (and us) about the code that allows Dexter to kill, and still be heroic in the viewers' eyes.

The show is very good, and the first season (focusing on the "Ice Truk Killer") is magnificent. I will deffinitely continue watching this series, and hopefully can get caught up with it by the time season 4 starts, so I can cover it regularly. So, yeah, go check it out. It will put a menacing feeling in your footsteps.

But in a good way.

Getting To Know You: BREAKING BAD

2009-07-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Getting To Know You, a new feature here at WWJW where Brandon or I will offer up our first thoughts on a film/show/game/comic book. Think of it as almost a review but not necessarily with a grade. More so a discussion on said entity with an emphasis on merely our thoughts. And we cannot stress this enough: these are only our opinions. We don’t have any sort of training in the critique world except that we really, really like this stuff. So without further ado, here is Getting To Know You: BREAKING BAD.

Never have I ever been so excited about a drama as I am about BREAKING BAD, a program from AMC that continues to surprise, excite, and frustrate its viewer. Hour-long dramas are not really a forte of mine unless there is some sort of science fiction bent or comic relief. I mean, my first foray into this genre was ER back in middle school, so let’s just say I’m not even remotely inclined to be judging these things. But I do also think you’d have to be an idiot not to fall head over heels with a show such as this. As much head over heels as you can with a show whose central antagonist and protagonist is crystal meth. I think we have to applaud the folks over at AMC for bringing this type of show to basic cable. Along with MAD MEN (which will be covered here at some point), AMC is becoming the new HBO. Engaging dramas that are highly out of the ordinary and extremely innovative.

“So what is this thing about?”, you ask. It’s fairly easy to set up. Bryan Cranston (yes, the dad from MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE) plays Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who could have really had so much more in the terms of research and career development. The White’s are down and out, with wife Skyler (Anna Gunn) pregnant at an unhealthy older age, and teenage Walt Jr. (RJ Mitte) afflicted with cerebral palsy. Walt works a second job at a car wash to try to make ends meet and things couldn’t look grimmer. Well, except for the fact that Walt is diagnosed with lung cancer and given only months to live. Keeping this from his family, he gets hooked up with a former burnout student of his, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) and the two start cooking meth together so Walter can leave a small fortune to his family when he passes on. It sounds simple enough, but as with all shows structured around the drug business, things couldn’t get more harrowing. It doesn’t help that Walt’s brother-in-law, Hank Schrader, is a DEA agent (played perfectly by Dean Norris).

BREAKING BAD is about as thematically rich as they come. On the surface it is a show about the desperate strains a father will go through to provide for his family. But on another level, especially through the second half of season two, it’s about the pride of a breadwinner; the pride of a man who resigned himself to fate and yet can’t help trying to bend fate’s rules. The show is frequently frustrating in that unlike Showtime’s WEEDS, when our characters dig themselves into a whole, there’s no Nancy Botwin to bat her eyes and weasel out of trouble. These are real stakes with real consequences that creator Vince Gilligan refuses to shy away from. As Walter says himself, “Every time we take a step forward, we take two steps back.” It’s almost a slice-of-life piece about the intricacies and danger of dealing illicit substances Life is just one big push and pull no matter who you are and what you do.

But this push and pull can take away your humanity. We continue to watch Walter slip from his moral ground where he starts to make his decisions based on the new world he has dragged himself into. It’s traumatic stuff, but it’s pulled off so well in thanks to the caliber of acting. I’ll type it here loud and clear: the acting on this show is hands down the best on television. Sorry, LOST, but it’s true. I truly have to take a step back and remind myself that this is the freaking dad from MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE. Cranston is just eons ahead of anyone out there. Also no slouch, Aaron Paul’s Pinkman (who was recently nominated for an Emmy for his work on the show) risks being one of the most stereotypical, one-note wigger characters on television. It’s a testament to the writing and Paul’s performance to feel for this kid whose heart is in the right place but too soft for the trade. The father-son bond that develops between the reluctant Walter and the yearning Jesse is one of the central groundings of the show, and the two play it brilliantly. RJ Mitte actually has mild cerebral palsy in real life and he nails his role as Walt Jr. His affliction perfectly illustrates Walt’s inner turmoil, in that here is a life that Walt created that just didn’t come out quite right, just like his choice to enter the drug world. And finally, Dean Norris’ DEA agent is an absolute delight. It’s a strange dichotomy to root for this wiseass when his quest is putting our protagonist Walter behind bars. He obviously never suspects Walter and it’s a thrilling cat-and-mouse game where the cat is oblivious that the mouse is pooping in the litter box as well.

In summary, if you’ve got any amount of time to catch up on a television show, I cannot recommend BREAKING BAD enough. I have no idea when season two arrives on DVD but I’m sure you can find a way to watch them. Season three should not start up again until the spring so you have the time. It’s a perfectly aced show that I haven’t even begun to break the surface with here in this breakdown. Get to it and start breaking.

- Chase

From the Moon to the, uh, Moon.

2009-07-17T16:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first text based posting for "What Would Jesus Watch?". Last night we saw the film MOON, and here are our reactions given in a discussion type format! Enjoy.

MOON is a sci-fi, psychological thriller starring Sam Rockwell & the voice of Kevin Spacey. Directed by Duncan Jones.

Chase Misenheimer: MOON is my favorite science fiction film since Danny Boyle's "Sunshine" from two years ago. Both are in the same vein in that each has its own sci-fi bent, but it's not really about what's out in space, but what happens in space. Unlike Boyle's film, "Moon" takes the psychological to the extreme and dwells on the human need for interaction. Brandon, first thoughts?

Brandon Norman: This was definitely a fantastic sci-fi film. I didn't know exactly what to expect walking into the movie, and what I did expect after seeing the trailers was pretty much dead wrong. Which is kind of refreshing. I really enjoyed the confined quarters this film takes place in, and really the thing that you have to leave the theater thinking (whether you enjoyed this or not) is that Sam Rockwell is a fantastic actor. He is given one of those defining roles of a lifetime, and it is in a movie with such a low cultural consciousness, that it may get overlooked by many. But not this guy.

CM: I think there is absolutely no doubt that Sam Rockwell knocks this one out of the park. It's hard to explain why without really giving too much away. Playing this type of role must be an absolute blast for an actor. Let's talk about the cinematography. The film is a palette of white and gray with only a few exceptions. It perfectly captures the drabness of this cold, cruel world that Rockwell has lived in for the past three years. Also at work is the used future. Pioneered by George Lucas, "Moon" takes the concept of a dirty, grungy space environment. Nothing is spic-and-span in this moon station. I like how director Jones doesn't throw this in the viewer's face, but merely lets the camera lilt around the interior.

BN: Absolutely. The cinematography is just fantastic. It largely uses the increasingly popular hand held cameras, that can commonly be seen in television and documentaries, but it put to fantastic use here. This also helps to really show just how long the station has been in operation. The station is starting to show the wear and tear of age. One thing that I absolutely love about this film is that it does not concern itself with the big twist of the story. Instead, it has the twist within the first half-hour, and the rest of the movie concerns itself with dealing with the aftermath of it. This is a great way to tell a story that I haven't seen in a movie before. It is nice to not leave the theater running through the lead up to the twist to see how it aligns and works out, but instead you are just focusing on the acting and the resolution of the story.

CM: Exactly. It put the "M. Night" moment in the most, to me, unthinkable of places. It truly is a unique experience. Let's not forget also that this is not "2001". Despite what you might gather from the trailers, especially with Kevin Spacey's monotone robot, this film is a different ride altogether. I see it as a meditation on the monotony of the workplace and what is it that actually gets us through the day to day grind.

In summary: A well acted, beautifully shot sci-fi head trip that will leave you re-thinking your astronaut aspirations. I give it 6 out of 7 moon craters. Brandon, final thoughts?

BN: The "M. Night" moment, as Chase put it, was definitely pointed at in the trailers. This movie, however, couldn't be farther from an M. Night movie. And it is probably farthest away from his forthcoming movie, a live-action adaptation of AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER. But, I digress. On a final note for me (pun intended), the music score here composed by Clint Mansell is excellent. He is one of my favorite composers, and his work really is an integral part of any movie he works on.

The movie is excellently put together. I definitely enjoyed it. This is absolutely worth another viewing, which I will give it when it comes out on DVD. The film is quite original from anything I have seen. Definitely worth an A- in my book. Check it out, if you get the chance.

Episode 1: Will You Be My Emma Watson?

2009-07-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

On the inaugural episode of WWJW, Brandon and Chase discuss the summer movie season so far and look ahead at what's left. Plus, it all culminates in a riveting discussion of the new Harry Potter film. Just kidding, it's unfathomably boring.