scarlett-30 Reviews

Columbo: Last Salute to the Commodore (1976) Season 5, Episode 6

A Columbo original

[24 November 2000]

An offbeat (literally) episode from the original run, in which Falk and director Patrick McGoohan tried a different angle on the familiar formula. The result is a rather fey, whimsical Lieutenant - all smirks and knowing winks - on a case that twists alarmingly before he can nail the suspect. Guaranteed to either enchant...or send viewers screaming from the room.

Watership Down (1999–2001)

Uniquely attractive cartoon

[12 November 2000]

A series version of the Richard Adams novel, necessarily simplified and restructured for the format - and so missing some of the fierce power of the original - but never giving in to the 'cute bunny' sterotype. Beautiful animation, intelligent storylines and lovely music make for a uniquely watchable show. Highly recommended for thoughtful 8-13-year-olds.

In the Heat of the Night (1988–1995)

A worthy successor to a great film

[26 January 1999]

It's extremely rare these days to find a film-to-tv spin-off that actually works (anybody remember 'Working Girl'?) but this 'Heat' is a worthy exception. It also has a strong, original slant of it's own -- the quirky (and, since this is the fictional South, sometimes downright eccentric) ways that ordinary people behave in extraordinary situations. Of course, in lazier moments this can sometimes mean genre cliches. And as the years go on it becomes increasingly difficult -- due to a series of well-publicized internal troubles -- to find ALL the stars together in the same episode. But at its best, the show has some powerful things to say about the human condition...and at its worst, it's still a beautifully produced hour spent with some very likable characters.

The Equalizer (1985–1989)

A very watchable series

[21 January 1999]

This is a terrific show -- tough, stylish and impeccably produced and acted. Yes, it's essentially about a high-class vigilante...but the interesting part is the series itself knows that, too, and offers no apologies and no justifications. There are no easy answers in Robert McCall's world, but he's doing the best he can. The results are sometimes grotesque but almost always fascinating.