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drlloyd11
Reviews
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Grave (2002)
simply awful..
Somehow after "Once more with Feeling" this show not so much ran off a cliff and sank in the mud. In theory this should have a fantastic season, as it had years of set up. Willow as dark phoenix had some merit, but they took too long with too many episodes of gloom and bad writing to get to he point.
The dialog between Willow and Giles is a good example of this.
Willow, overflowing with pain, having found an addiction to have the love of her life killed senselessly, standing before him with endless rage, is told "I'm sorry about Tara" in the most bland uninterested voice as if they were discussing toast. I remember watching, and when Willow started to slap Buffy around, realizing that I was on the villains side.
Dead Like Me: Life After Death (2009)
A complete flop
I liked the original show. It was quirky, funny, and best of all had likable characters. This movie is like fan fiction written by a psycho-ath. I can't say enough bad things about it. Characters were completely off, story started and dropped off, continunity violently ignored.
Really really bad... Vogon Poetry bad ... And you know, its not that recasting daisy or the loss of Mandy Pankin is the sum of this. The new (yuppie) boss was kind of a good idea, and it started OK. But the idea was abandoned so fast, my head spun.
Just rerent the show
Battlestar Galactica (2004)
Time magazines show of the year..
Wow! I remember the old show...cheap, derivative, preachy...
Sure I watched it, but it was for lack of alternatives...
This show is simply fantastic. Much like Buffy, this is a very very serious and well written show in a sci-fi/fantasy setting.
The story lines are very tense and well written, there is no superficial characterizations or cheap banter. Its about war, paranoia, and survival.
Its about religion and doubt, and it has probably the best depiction of the Military in any TV show.
Best character besides Adama? The judas snake Dr Baltus, who seems to be truly fighting with his worse nature..
Doctor Who (2005)
Fantastic! A gem kept from us Americans
For those with access to the BBC or the CBC, this has proved to be spectacular. Like Battlestar Gallactica, this is a show rebuilt from the ground up. But in the case of Dr Who, they saved the best parts. I can't believe I am saying this but.. this is by far the best Dr Who. This has none of the cheap production values and sometimes slow plodding of the old show. The acting is quite good and there is a real sense of continuity and history. The new Doctor is easily the equal of the great Tom Baker, and the writer (former QAF lead) seems to have made even the minor characters come alive.
I know...I'm gushing..but this should be on everyone sci-fi geeks list. I just don't know why it hasn't made its way here.. Whatever you do...if you ever loved Dr Who or sci-fi..see this!!!
Igby Goes Down (2002)
Massivly self indulgent
While there are some excellent performances in this, the lead (another one of the ever vile Culkin brood) is truly unwatchable and the writing has the crispness of a life time movie, but without the relief of a commercial break. Let me save you the trouble. Its a unlikable "Catcher in the Rye" "homage" that is wallowing in self pity instead of insight. I cant recommend skipping this enough, even with Jeff Goldblum doing a good turn.
East Is East (1999)
Could be retitled "my b****rd father and why I eat pork"
I sort of feel this is more like the authors anger at his upbringing that any kind of film. So we get some brutal misogyony (woman are seen as dumb, vain, slutty or ugly.) A paen against mixed marriages (the english wives seem to cry alot, and seem like prisoners in cruel marriages. No idea why they are in these ostrasizing marriages from the way they are presented. Too bad, would have loved to see more about them than the kids) The kids come of as one dimensional emotions (the loyal son, the rebel, the poet, the gay man). I respect the authors anger behind this but this film comes off as deeply anti-muslim. And this is coming from a Zionist Jew who kept a picture of Moshe Dyan by the bed as a child.
Fire (1996)
Beautiful, romantic, and actually pretty sensual.
While the romance in this film is an important aspect, it is largely about the role of responsibility and duty in modern Indian. All of the major characters were well fleshed out, and had their own "inner life". I recommend this strongly
Late Bloomers (1996)
A nice surprise, a sweet film.
Yeah, its sort of movie of the week, but its sweet and well acted. More importantly, its two middle aged woman falling in love, neither look like super models, and yet its pretty damn sexy at parts (they play nude basketball at night in a really cute scene). I have to recommend this.