D52–Oliver and Company

Loosely based on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, 1988’s Oliver and Company tells the story of an orphaned cat who is taken in by a gang of streetwise dogs to learn how to survive in 80s New York City.

The music is easily the highlight of the film, features songs by the likes of Billy Joel and Bette Middler. The animation here is noticeably stronger than much of Disney’s other work of the decade, with better movement and cleaner lines. The film is well paced and the characters are reasonably developed and very likeable.

As the first film I even saw in a movie theatre, Oliver and Company will always have an extra sense of nostalgia for me. Even despite this, the film definitely holds up to modern standards. The music is absolutely of its era, but that doesn’t hurt it. This is a movie that anyone should be able to enjoy.

Original 1988 trailer

Up next: The Little Mermaid (1989)

D52–The Great Mouse Detective

Based on a series of children’s novels, The Great Mouse Detective was originally released in 1986. It is a play on the classic Sherlock Holmes stories but, like The Rescuers before it, set in the world of mice. It follows Sherlock surrogate Basil as he searches for a young girl’s father who has been kidnapped by his arch nemesis Ratigan. It is notable for the gears and mechanisms inside the clock tower in the climactic final battle, which were the first use of computer generated images in an animated feature film.

Like its ‘80s brethren, The Great Mouse Detective is darker than most other Disney fare. The backgrounds are particularly noteworthy here, as they do an excellent job of portraying a Victorian London with just the right amount of creepiness to make the film consistently unsettling. The direction is also strong, managing to keep up a quick, exciting pace from start to finish without becoming exhausting. Likewise, the voice acting is also quite good, with the standout being Vincent Price as Ratigan. His performance is the perfect mix of suave, threatening, and ham.

I’ve always been a big fan of this film, so I’m not sure if my opinion of it is unbiased, but upon viewing it now I absolutely think it holds up. The characters are interesting, the plot fully engaging, and it features a very different tone from most other Disney films. It’s a shame it has become one of the lesser known films, but it is definitely worth watching.

1986 trailer for The Great Mouse Detective

Up next: Oliver and Company (1988)

If You’re Not, You Should Be–Streaming Music

This series is designed as a way to call attention to things, practices, places, activities, or anything else you might not be aware of that I think are worth checking out. I try to cover as wide a variety of topics as I can.

This week is all about streaming music. Thanks to near ubiquitous WiFi and hefty cell phone data plans, gone are the days of being limited to the music you can fit on your mp3 player or phone. If you’re not streaming music yet, and even if you are, here are three extremely useful apps to check out.

Google Music

This is my favourite of the streaming apps. Using your Google account, you simply activate the Music service by visiting their site and your entire music collection will be uploaded to their servers. After that, you can listen to any of your songs, any time, without having to use up valuable storage space on your device. There is a slight catch if you live outside the US, UK, France, or Germany, though. The service isn’t officially offered their, so the first time you travel to the site, it will tell you you’re not allowed. The work around is simple, though. Google only checks your location when you first active the service. Simply use an IP blocker (Tunnel Bear worked for me) to go to the site and log in and accept the terms of service. After that you can visit normally and it will work without problems for you. You can now listen to your music through any computer or android device. Available for Android, PC, and Mac.

(iOS users, Apple offers a similar service, iTunes Match, but with a couple caveats. First, it costs $24.99 per year to access it and second, rather than uploading your actual library it will simply copy the database and give you streaming access to the same songs from iTunes. Initially this lead to many reports of being matched to the wrong version of a song. Hopefully that has been worked out by now, but it’s something to be aware of.)

Songza

This service offers human curated playlists which you can choose from either by searching the entire list or, more interestingly, based on the time of day and the activity you are performing. For example, checking it at 5 PM on a Friday offers playlist suggestions for Working, A Weekday Dance Party, Brand New Music, Office Crowd Pleasers, Doing Housework, and Getting Ready For The Weekend. I’ve found these playlists for be a great way to discover new music and set a soundtrack that is perfect for my mood. Available for Android and iOS.

Slacker

The final service I’ll recommend is Slacker. Like Songza, it offers some curated playlists, but its main draw is its ability to generate playlists on the fly from a seed song, similar to Apple’s Genius Mix or Google’s Instant Mix. It’s an easy way to hear songs similar to a style you like without being limited only to songs you know and have in your library.

Honourable mention goes to Pandora. I love using the service when I’m in the US, but it is unfortunately unavailable in other countries and I don’t know of a simple, reliable workaround for mobile devices.

Know of any other streaming apps I should be trying? If you’re not streaming already, you really should be.

Sleep well,

DTE

Insert Title Here: Brave, Dick Van Dyke, and Mass Effect

Every week there are tons of newly released films, Blu-rays, books, comics, and CDs, but the truth is, very few of them are worth your time. That’s where this feature comes in. Each posting attempts to highlight the best new media releases of the coming week. It’s far from exhaustive, and of course it will be mostly according to my taste, but I’ll try to do my best to include a wide variety, so hopefully you’ll see something that interests you too.

Brave

Pixar’s latest film, Brave is a bit of a departure for them. Though it is still a wholly original story, on the surface it bears far more in common with Disney’s princess films than it does with Pixar’s stable of hits. It offers a fresh look at the classic princess structure and features a strong female lead surrounded by stunning animation. This is definitely one to check out.

The Dick Van Dyke Show: Complete Series

Even though it premiered over 50 years ago, The Dick Van Dyke Show is still one of the funniest, smartest sitcoms ever created. If you’ve never seen it, you owe it to yourself to check it out. A quick YouTube search will yield plenty of episodes upon which you can form your own opinion. The complete series has been out on DVD for years, but this week it makes its Blu-ray debut in a stunning, fully restored version. It may be pricey, but it’s one I really want to pick up.

Mass Effect: Paragon Lost

BioWare’s biggest franchise, Mass Effect, is getting the anime treatment by Funimation Productions, the same studio that created Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker. Like that film, this is an original story set in the universe of the games, this one focusing on the story of James Vega before he joins up with Commander Shepard. I wouldn’t expect anything groundbreaking, but it should be a fun film for fans of the series.

Sleep well,

DTE

D52–The Black Cauldron

Originally slated for release in 1984, The Black Cauldron finally made it to theatres in 1985 and features one of Disney’s two “lost” princesses. Disney’s first PG rated animated film, it was both a critical and box office failure, failing to even earn back its production costs and very nearly ending the entire animation program at the studio.

The film takes a very ambitious stance, but unfortunately fails at nearly every juncture. It attempts to tell an epic fantasy story, but does so in such an abbreviated amount of time that it simple can’t hold up. The plot is rushed, without ever having a sense of purpose or direction. Though there are hints that the characters may have more lurking beneath the surface, they are never given the chance to develop or grow on the audience. Last minute edits and rewrites add to the choppy, disjointed feel of the film as a whole. Even the animation feels subpar, falling far below the standards of the studio at the time.

The Black Cauldron is a dark, ambitious, and deeply flawed film. It will likely be too intense for younger viewers, while older viewers will be put off by its erratic pacing and shallow characterizations. It is interesting as a peculiarity among Disney films, but all but the most serious fans can safely pass this one by without fear of missing much.\

The 1985 trailer for The Black Cauldron

Up next: The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

D52–The Fox and the Hound

Released in 1981, The Fox and the Hound follows the doomed friendship between a fox and a hunting dog. It had been four years since Disney had released an animated feature and the company was entering its darkest period to date.

Much like The Rescuers, the biggest problem with The Fox and the Hound is that it just feels hollow. What should be a deeply touching story about friendship between two characters that the world believes should be enemies simply feels rote. This is probably due to the fact that the audience never really gets to see the two as friends, relegating that to two short scenes before tearing them apart. As a result, when Todd returns to save Copper in the finale, it doesn’t feel earned. There is some nice animation, though nothing noteworthy, and some good character work by the supporting cast, but the whole thing seems to keep the audience at arms length.

I enjoyed the movie quite a bit when I was younger. There is enough going on and plenty of interesting characters to make it worthwhile. Viewing it as an adult, its flaws become much more apparent. It’s certainly not a bad film, but definitely one of Disney’s lesser efforts. Young children will enjoy it, but most other will only find it to be a mild diversion.

The 1981 teaser trailer for The Fox and the Hound

Up next: The Black Cauldron (1985)

D52–The Rescuers

Delving into the world of the Rescue Aid Society, the mouse version of the United Nations, 1977’s The Rescuers follows the adventures of Bernard and Bianca as they attempt to rescue an orphaned girl who has been kidnapped. Originally intended to have Cruella deVille as the villain, that detail was altered midway through production, though some traces, such as her car, still remain in the finished product.

From a technical perspective, the film is noteworthy for being the first to use colour photocopying. The Disney studio had used Xerox machines to transfer the pencil drawings to the cel since 101 Dalmatians, but they were always restricted to black lines. With the advent of colour copying, drawing outlines could now be made in colors that matched or reflected the characters themselves. The film features the darker tone that would become typical of Disney for the next decade. While not outright sad, it is definitely sombre from start to finish. It has some bright character moments, but the majority is subdued.

As I child, I didn’t enjoy this film, feeling it was too slow and much preferring the brighter sequel The Rescuers Down Under. Revisiting it, it’s still far from my favourite. None of the characters or story elements really connect with me and it feels a little hollow. I would consider it essential viewing only as an introduction to the characters on display in the sequel, which we’ll get to in a few weeks.

1977 television ad for The Rescuers

Up next: The Fox and the Hound (1981)

Insert Title Here–Pete’s Dragon, Moonrise Kingdom, and Avatar

Every week there are tons of newly released films, Blu-rays, books, comics, and CDs, but the truth is, very few of them are worth your time. That’s where this feature comes in. Each posting attempts to highlight the best new media releases of the coming week. It’s far from exhaustive, and of course it will be mostly according to my taste, but I’ll try to do my best to include a wide variety, so hopefully you’ll see something that interests you too.

Pete’s Dragon Blu-ray

This charming 1977 film about an orphaned boy and his (animated) dragon friend may be largely unknown in the under 25 set, but it really is worthy of a second look. It has the storytelling and humour styles typical of Disney fare of the 70s, which means it plays a little hokey to modern eyes, but kids will enjoy it and adults who grew up with it appreciate it for its nostalgic quality.

Moonrise Kingdom Blu-ray

Wes Anderson’s latest film is one of the best of the year. It is the love story of a young boy and girl on a small island off the east coast of the US. It is filled with Anderson’s trademark quirky humour and inspired visuals and has a terrific cast, especially the two young leads. If you didn’t catch this one in theatres, you definitely need to go check it out.

Avatar Blu-ray 3D

By this point nearly everyone is familiar with the plot of Avatar, and most have seen it at least once. It’s been out on Blu-ray for two years, so why am I bothering to point it out this week? Well, previously it was only available in a 2D version. A bare bones 3D version was included with some Panasonic 3D TVs, but otherwise buyers were stuck with only 2D. Personally, I always try to see and purchase films in the format they were intended by the directors. That’s why I don’t go to films that were converted to 3D after the director was done with them, why I don’t buy films with modified aspect ratios, or watch anything that has been colorized. Since James Cameron very painstakingly composed Avatar for viewing in 3D, I was not interested in buying an altered version of the film. If you’d like to see the film again as it was intended, this is the disc to pick up.

Sleep well,

DTE

Premiere Week 2012: Walking Dead and Comic Book Men

The Walking Dead

After starting strong with an excellent six episode first season, The Walking Dead suffered greatly in its second. Series showrunner Frank Darabont was fired/quit before the season began and the budget was cut drastically. Audiences were given 22 episodes with plot that felt like it could have properly filled out 13. Characters were forced to spend so much time bickering and spinning their wheels that it quickly became difficult to find a single one who could be described as likeable. Though things improved slightly in the last five episodes, it never returned to season one levels. The season three premiere mostly continues in this positive direction. There is definite progress made by the characters and, with the exception of Lori, none of them come off as too irritating. There are still poor scenes which drag on interminably, most notably the campfire scene, but they were in the minority.

Stay, Skip or Give it 4: This is a difficult one to rate. If you’ve been watching up to this point, I think you should Stay. The show seems to be taking steps in the right direction, so hopefully our patience will be rewarded. On the other hand, if you haven’t watched yet, I’d have to go with Skip. The first season is good, but the deterioration that happens after that point make it impossible to recommend, at least at this point. If this season turns things around, then it could easily move back onto the recommended list, with viewers just having to endure a weak second season.

Walking Dead Season 3 trailer

Comic Book Men

Spawned from the hilarious Tell ‘Em Steve Dave podcast, Comic Book Men is a reality show which takes place in a comicbook shop in New Jersey. Though its first season had some issues, mostly the forced feeling “activity” for each episode, it was enjoyable and captured the spirit of the podcast in a safe-for-TV version, focusing on the camaraderie of the shop staff and watching the appraisal process for some very interesting (and some worthless) comicbooks and memorabilia. The second season premiere is very much in the same spirit as the first, and just as enjoyable. The running time has been reduced from one hour to half an hour, and unfortunately they chose to trim some of the buying/selling instead of some of the special task (this week a birthday party in the store). Nonetheless, it’s still great to see the TESD guys back on TV.

Stay, Skip, or Give It 4: Definitely a Stay for this one. If you’re a fan of the podcast or comics in general, you’ll find a lot to like here. Even if you’re not, the staff is funny enough to keep even viewers with no knowledge of the comic world entertained. It’s the rare show that allows viewers to laugh with geeks rather than at them. The reduced runtime and later timeslot this season don’t bode well for the show’s longevity, so enjoy this one while you can.

Comic Book Men season 2 trailer

D52: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Though The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was released in 1977, it is actually a collection of three shorts that had been previously released in theatres. Since A.A. Milne's Pooh books were not well known in North America, Walt Disney decided they should introduce the character in a series of shorts and then compile them into one whole which "audiences [would] love". Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree was released in 1966, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day in 1968, and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too in 1974.

The animation in this film is near perfect. It is simple and beautiful, the perfect match for the source material. The character animation is wonderful as well, capturing each personality remarkably and imbuing them with a sense of life that has allowed the characters to live on far outside the film. In addition to the often wry humour, the best element of the film is the way in which the animated characters are made to interact with the typeface of the book in which they are living. Not only does it serve as a clever visual distinguisher and allows for some interesting gags, it also helps to tie the film back to the world of the books which spawned it.

This is a fantastic film which absolutely holds up. There is really no reason not to watch it. It's funny, endearing, and entertaining, regardless what age you are. If you have somehow managed to not see it yet, you owe it to yourself to remedy that. Even if you have seen it before, watch it and experience it again. You'll be glad that you did.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh DVD trailer

Up next: The Rescuers (1977)

D52: Robin Hood

Robin Hood was released in 1973 and loosely follows the legend of the same name. Though it was not well received critically, audiences enjoyed it and it has remained well known despite its age and status as a lesser Disney film.

Released in the early seventies, the Disney studio was still trying to figure out how to run its animation division without Walt. Robin Hood was an attempt at a lower budget film than was typical for the studio. The most obvious cost saving measure was using character models from The Jungle Book, saving money on new designs. Sharp eyed viewers will also notice that several animated sequences are reused throughout the film. The most hidden budgetary concession is the reuse of rough animation from other films as the basis for animation of scenes. The most prominent use of this technique is during the dance number in Robin’s camp, which contains elements from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Jungle Book, and The Aristocats.

The low budget employed is a non-issue. I loved this film as a child and it more than holds up. The songs are catchy, the story is fast paced and entertaining, and the characters are thoroughly enjoyable. This is a great introduction to the classic legend and a film that any fan of animation will enjoy.

Robin Hood DVD trailer

Up Next: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1973)

Premiere Week 2012: It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

The eighth season of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia returns much as it ever was. This isn’t a show where things change. The characters don’t grow, their situation and relationships don’t improve or deteriorate. Each episode merely sees them facing a new (usually self created) obstacle. This is quite intentional on the creator’s part, having stated early on that when it finally came time to wrap up the show, the characters would all be in the exact same spot they started in. This method gives each episode a stand-alone quality, but also makes it difficult to judge if the show is improving or not. Some episodes are always better than others, but they all make you laugh at some point.

Stay, Skip, or Give It 4: This is a solid Stay. Even though the premiere wasn’t one of their strongest outings, it was still entertaining, and I have every reason to believe this season will be as funny as all the rest. If you have a taste for dark humour, definitely give this show a shot.

Mock trailer for season 8

D52: The Aristocats

The first animated feature created entirely after Walt Disney’s death, 1970’s The Aristocats is a bit of a mixed bag. The story is essentially a retelling of 101 Dalmatians, substituting cats for dogs, but losing some of its charm in the translation.

The animation here is still strong, but the film suffers directorially. It has two tones which battle throughout, the more sedate style of earlier Disney films and a more kinetic, hip style found in the studio’s live action offerings of the time. This disjointed feel, along with the lack of any really memorable characters, likely explains why it leaves so many audience members cold and has never really been regarded as one of the animated classics.

Probably because this wasn’t a very popular film at the time, I didn’t see The Aristocats as a child. Instead I was already well into my teens before first viewing it. As a result, I likely have far less nostalgia for this title than many of the others. That, combined with its tonal and character issues, makes this a notably average film for me. It’s certainly not a bad film, nor does it attempt to be great, it’s simply content in its averageness. Younger viewers will likely get the most out of this, though it is worth watching at least once, even for adults.

The Aristocats DVD release trailer

Up Next: Robin Hood (1973)

Premiere Week 2012: Arrow

Arrow is the latest of the CW’s attempts to bring DC Comics characters to television. It tells the story of a reimagined Green Arrow who has just returned from years on remote island where he was stranded after his yacht sank. Upon returning to civilization, he decides to exact revenge on a long list of people, though the pilot doesn’t reveal exactly how those people wound up on his list. The pilot episode quickly reveals what will likely be the formula for the rest of the series’ foreseeable future. Someone from Arrow’s list will come into prominence, likely often through his lawyer ex-girlfriend, and Arrow will track him down. At some point his younger sister, already referred to as Speedy in the opening episode, will learn his secret and join him as his sidekick. Even with the assumed higher budget of the pilot, the entire affair feels flat and lifeless. The directing is dull and the dialogue clichéd. The action is not bad for television, but also nothing special.

Stay, Skip, or Give It 4: My personal feeling was that this should get a Skip, but after browsing through some other reviews, I appear to be in the minority in this view. It seems that the pilot was generally well received, so perhaps I’m being overly hard on the show, possibly I’m still bearing a grudge over how terrible Smallville became. As a result, I’m going to Give It 4, and if you’re interested in it, you probably should too.

Arrow trailer

D52: The Jungle Book

The 1967 film The Jungle Book was the last Disney animated feature was the last to be personally worked on by Walt Disney and was released less than a year after his death in December 1966. It is a loose adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s book of the same name, following the story of Mowgli, a human boy who was raised by wolves and grew up in the Jungles of India.

There are two real highlights to The Jungle Book. The first is the animation itself. Not only is it beautiful, as was typical with Disney’s work at the time, but it also features some of the best character animation ever produced, whether by Disney or any other studio. It is so strong, in fact, that it is still used as reference material for animators to this day, and that strength is evident even to the casual viewer. The second winning element of the film is its soundtrack. The songs by the Sherman Brothers are immediately catchy and many are universally known to this day.

The Jungle Book was never one of my favorites as a child and, watching it again now, I can’t say that my opinion has changed much. I enjoy the music and appreciate the technical prowess, but for some reason I just never quite get invested in the story or the characters. That being said, I’m definitely in the minority with this opinion and would certainly recommend seeing it. Most kids and adults alike will be able to get a lot of enjoyment out of the humour, action, and memorable characters.

40th Anniversary re-release trailer

Up next: The Aristocats (1970)

Premiere Week 2012: Homeland

Homeland

The big winner for Drama at this year’s Emmys was Homeland, and with good reason. It was easily the best new show of last season, combining smart dialogue, fantastic performances, an intriguing story, and loads of tension. The series focuses on a CIA agent investigating a recently released American soldier who had been held for years as a prisoner by a terrorist cell. Revealing any episode details would severely spoil the first season for those who haven’t watched it yet, but judging by the premiere episode, the second season will be every bit as strong as the first.

Stay, Skip, or Give It 4: Homeland is definitely worth a Stay. If you haven’t seen it yet, you owe it to yourself to watch this show. The first season is available online, on demand, and on Blu-ray/DVD, so track it down and start watching. You won’t regret it.

Homeland season 2 trailer

Premiere Week 2012: Once Upon A Time, 666 Park Avenue, and Amazing Race

Once Upon A Time

This series, about fable and fairy tale characters living in our world, had an uneven first year. The premise was strong, but the show itself seemed destined to focus more on the goings on in the real world, rather than the more interesting fantasy world, as only a couple characters knew of their true origin and worked to either reveal or hide that fact. The finale last year took a big gamble by changing all of that. In the closing scene magic was restored to the real world, causing all the fables to remember their true identities. The second season picks up from that moment and, if the premiere is any indication, it was a good decision. Making the characters aware of their pasts immediately makes the real world more interesting (as well as, hopefully, drastically reducing the need for the boy Henry, one of the worst parts of season 1). Aided by an increased budget, the benefit of which is immediately apparent in the sets and visual effects, and this show is definitely headed in the right direction.

Stay, Skip, or Give it 4: Once Upon A Time earns a Stay. The huge change this year looks like it should fix many of the series’ problems. The new universe rules will make if far easier to fail in a big way, but the potential rewards are also much higher.

Once Upon A Time season 2

666 Park Avenue

In this new series, a young couple takes jobs as the building managers for an upscale apartment building in New York. Over the course of the pilot, it becomes apparent that the building is somehow connected to supernatural forces, with the building’s owner, in particular, making deals with various tenants, often with tragic prices. The pilot was well written, with characters that were interesting and enough hidden cards to keep viewers curious as to what exactly is going on.

Stay, Skip, or Give it 4: This is going to be a bit of a unique situation, in that I’m giving it both a Give it 4 and a Skip. The show is well made and looks like it will probably be worth watching, so if you’re interested, definitely check it out. Personally, though, 666 Park Avenue veers a little too far towards straight up horror for my tastes, meaning that I probably won’t be sticking around to keep watching.

666 Park Avenue season 1

The Amazing Race

There’s really nothing new to speak of about The Amazing Race. At this point, everyone knows what it is and whether they are interested in watching it.

Stay, Skip, or Give it 4: If you’re a fan of the series, there’s no reason not to Stay. None of the teams this go around seem to be particularly likable, but it should still serve as a decent diversion.

Amazing Race season 18

Premiere Week 2012: Fringe and Star Wars: Clone Wars

Fringe

Fringe is easily the best show on network television right now. What began as an average, case-of-the-week science fiction investigative show quickly evolved into one of the richest, best written, and most rewarding series available. It has never received large ratings, likely due to the fact that many people are wary of sci-fi in general, believing themselves to be above it or having been burned by too many low quality attempts in the genre. After the third season, Fringe gave up any pretence of attempting to attract new viewers. It took its already dense mythology and committed to it so vigorously that the series became impenetrable to anyone not already well versed. The fifth and final season takes this a step further by jumping the series ahead to the year 2036 and offering very little explanation.

Stay, Skip, or Give it 4: Fringe is definitely worth a Stay. If you’ve never watched it and are a fan of science fiction or intelligent TV at all, you really owe it to yourself to view this from the beginning.

Fringe season 5

Star Wars: Clone Wars

Much like Fringe, this is another series that had a very rough start. It was introduced to the world by hastily cutting together the first three episodes and releasing them to theatres as a film. While the CG animation is fantastic for TV, it can’t even come close to standing up to what audiences have come to expect from films by Pixar and the like. Many of the initial episodes to air on TV the first season were overly kid friendly, causing the series to suffer from a kind of Jar-Jar syndrome. That changed with the Ryloth trilogy at the end of the season. The show finally found a way to tell stories that were mature and compelling for adults, while still entertaining for younger viewers. Since then, it has only continued to improve. While some fans may argue with the changes being made to the expanded universe to suit the shows needs, it is difficult to argue that it fails on a creative level. This season begins with an instalment focused on the return of Darth Maul. Though it doesn’t necessarily improve unto past episodes, it is an entertaining half hour.

Stay, Skip, or Give it 4: If you are a fan of Star Wars, you should really be watching this series, so it gets a Stay. It’s true to the saga in tone (even if it occasionally overwrites established canon) and is a great show in its own right.

Clone Wars season 5

Premiere Week 2012–Last Resort, Elementary, South Park, and Big Bang Theory

Last Resort

Coming from Shawn Ryan, creator of The Shield, The Unit, and Chicago Code, there are high expectations for Last Resort. The series follows the crew of a nuclear submarine which is given what appear to be false orders to attack Pakistan, thus instigating a nuclear was. Instead the crew mutinies and takes over a NATO listening post, where it will begin to function as a sovereign nation while they clear their names. The pilot episode did an excellent job of introducing a large number of characters and building the world they inhabit. It was filled with tension and humour and entertaining throughout.

Stay, Skip, or Give it 4: Absolutely a Stay. The creator’s pedigree alone make it worth giving the series a chance. It could be difficult to maintain the level of tension featured in the pilot, but this team has a better chance than most.

Last Resort Season 1

Elementary

Yet another “modern” interpretation of the Sherlock Holmes series of books. The series has been adapted so many times over the years that it is nearly impossible to review without comparing to other efforts. This is especially true now, when there are currently three separate takes on the material producing new content; this series, the BBC’s Sherlock, and Warner Bros’ film series Sherlock Holmes. This version takes place in New York and features an incredibly lifeless Lucy Liu as Watson. Sherlock himself is somewhat interesting, but it is the investigation itself that really fails here. Yes, Sherlock does comes up with all of the clues more or less single handed, but none of them are particularly impressive. Nothing he pieces together make him appear any smarter than any other TV cop, and even the viewers will be able to come up with all of the same deductions. There needs to be more of the type of reasoning featured as he worked out Watson’s backstory and less of the “there are two glasses so she knew her killer!” type.

Stay, Skip, or Give it 4: Elementary gets a Skip. Though it is better than the abysmal film version, there is nothing here worth staying around for. Bland presentation and generic mysteries render the show inert. Check out the far superior Sherlock instead.

Elementary Season 1

South Park

After sixteen seasons, the series’ creative team has it down to an art. Not all of the episodes are masterpieces, but they are consistently funny and even the weakest outing have some genius gags. The quick production time allows them to be incredibly relevant and the still do satire better than almost anyone else.

Stay, Skip, or Give it 4: Definitely Stay. The premiere was good, but not especially noteworthy, but that’s not really the point. The show remains smart and funny and, if you aren’t offended by it’s often crude nature, you should be watching it.

South Park Season 16.5

Big Bang Theory

This show’s quality seems to be inversely related to its popularity. Though it is achieving its highest ever ratings, it is also far from its creative high point in the second season. That being said, it is still reliably funny. Though it may not be terribly original or inventive, it is more than capable of serving as “comfort food”. The season premiere was a prime example of that. It was enjoyable mainly because we know the characters and have developed relationships with them, not because anything that happened was particularly funny or interesting.

Stay, Skip, or Give it 4: Big Bang Theory still gets a Stay. For those who have been watching for years it is still nice to spend time with these characters. If you’ve never watched, there’s no particular reason to start. There are plenty of worse comedies to watch, but there’s nothing here to really entice new viewers.

Big Bang Season 6