The cultural phenomenon that is "Star Wars" is transcendent. Watching one of the now 8 films is like being knee deep in presents at your grandparent's home for Christmas. The films warm us like a fireplace on a bitterly cold night. When the opening credits begin, our eyes get misty and we feel a sense of joy. For the next 2 plus hours we are in a galaxy far far away, and the cares of this world disappear for us. Thankfully, "Episode 8: The Last Jedi" does nothing to diminish the legacy of the series, or take us away from the aforementioned joy.
There were complaints about "The Force Awakens" which were justified. The film re-imagined the first Star Wars movie (which later became episode 4, A New Hope) and seemed to cement the reputation of J. J. Abrams as someone who can't tell an original story. I believe turning over the writing of Episode 8 to director Rian Johnson was a very good choice. I was worried that "The Last Jedi" would be a remake of "The Empire Strikes Back," given "The Force Awakens," but fortunately there is only a nod in that direction. The story is definitely original in concept and surprises in a number of ways.
There are some who believe this new trilogy doesn't measure up to the original trilogy, in much the same way that some weren't happy with the prequel trilogy. I understand their feelings, but do not share them. "The Last Jedi" is Star Wars for a whole new generation, and you can embrace it or reject it as you wish. I choose to embrace the new trilogy, and I eagerly anticipate Episode 9.
Reviews
11 Reviews
Wonder Woman
(2017)
Can War itself be made obsolete? Wonder Woman hopes it can.
3 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Most superhero action films are long on the action, and short on any real meaning. By that I mean films like "Spiderman," "The Avengers," and the endless series of sequels to those films and others serve to entertain us without actually making any kind of statement. Most of the angst provided by the aforementioned films deals with the personal lives of the heroes, and they generally don't take the time to comment on the reality we live in. "Wonder Woman" is really not like those movies in that regard. Sure, it entertains, but it also says something about what is happening in our world today.
"Wonder Woman" is set during the Great War (WWI), mostly. The film is as much about the horrors of war and the never ending conflict between human beings as it is about a superhero saving the day in daring and dashing fashion. The film begins in the present day and quickly moves to the past and a mysterious hidden island inhabited by female warriors called Amazons. We are all familiar with the Amazon concept, but the film explains their origins and why they are here.
Young Diana (Lily Aspell) is the only child on the island, daughter of the Amazon queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) (although Diana's actual origins are mysterious). The queen is protective of her child and doesn't want her to train with the other warriors. Of course the young girl wants to learn how to fight so badly she manages to get some training from Hippolyta's sister, Antiope (Robin Wright). It should be noted that both Nielsen and Wright are very good in their all too brief appearances in the film.
When an airplane breaches the secrecy of the island and crashes just off the beach, a now older Diana (Gal Gadot) rescues the pilot, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine). She learns from him about the Great War being fought in the outside world, and Diana knows she must leave the island to find what she believes is the root cause of the conflict, the god Ares. She believes that by stopping (killing) Ares, she can put an end to war itself.
Diana gets a last name, Prince, from Trevor after she travels with him to London, England, and there are some amusing sequences because of her obvious naiveté and lack of experience with our world. Diana is kind of a wide eyed innocent, a lethal wide eyed innocent I might add, and Trevor has to keep her in line as best as he can. Ultimately the pair of them are joined by some of Trevor's less than respectable friends, Sameer (Said Taghmaoui), Charlie (Ewen Bremner), and The Chief (Eugene Brave Rock). Together the group heads to the front lines in search of Ares, and an end to War.
Directed by Patty Jenkins (Monster), the film's pacing is a strong point, as it never moves along too fast or too slowly. "Wonder Woman" is not a great movie, but it is a good one and worthy of being considered one of the best of the DC series of films.
"Wonder Woman" is set during the Great War (WWI), mostly. The film is as much about the horrors of war and the never ending conflict between human beings as it is about a superhero saving the day in daring and dashing fashion. The film begins in the present day and quickly moves to the past and a mysterious hidden island inhabited by female warriors called Amazons. We are all familiar with the Amazon concept, but the film explains their origins and why they are here.
Young Diana (Lily Aspell) is the only child on the island, daughter of the Amazon queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) (although Diana's actual origins are mysterious). The queen is protective of her child and doesn't want her to train with the other warriors. Of course the young girl wants to learn how to fight so badly she manages to get some training from Hippolyta's sister, Antiope (Robin Wright). It should be noted that both Nielsen and Wright are very good in their all too brief appearances in the film.
When an airplane breaches the secrecy of the island and crashes just off the beach, a now older Diana (Gal Gadot) rescues the pilot, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine). She learns from him about the Great War being fought in the outside world, and Diana knows she must leave the island to find what she believes is the root cause of the conflict, the god Ares. She believes that by stopping (killing) Ares, she can put an end to war itself.
Diana gets a last name, Prince, from Trevor after she travels with him to London, England, and there are some amusing sequences because of her obvious naiveté and lack of experience with our world. Diana is kind of a wide eyed innocent, a lethal wide eyed innocent I might add, and Trevor has to keep her in line as best as he can. Ultimately the pair of them are joined by some of Trevor's less than respectable friends, Sameer (Said Taghmaoui), Charlie (Ewen Bremner), and The Chief (Eugene Brave Rock). Together the group heads to the front lines in search of Ares, and an end to War.
Directed by Patty Jenkins (Monster), the film's pacing is a strong point, as it never moves along too fast or too slowly. "Wonder Woman" is not a great movie, but it is a good one and worthy of being considered one of the best of the DC series of films.
The OA
(2016–2019)
Sometimes it is the little things that matter the most
31 March 2017
Surreal, horrifying, intense, quiet, and in the end magnificent, the Netflix original series, "The OA" is what storytelling can be, and what it probably should be. "The OA" is about a young woman who is forced to undergo a traumatic event, one that might leave the rest of us locked away in an asylum for the rest of our lives. Blind since childhood, Prairie Johnson (Brit Marling) returns to her home after having vanished 7 years earlier with her sight mysteriously restored. What happened to her, and how she regained her sight is a story told over the 8 episodes in season one of the series. It has been renewed for a second season, which means some of the plot elements left dangling at the end of season one will most likely be resolved over the course of season 2.
There are very few programs or films that have impacted my life. "The OA" is now one of them. Directed and co-written by Sal Batmanglij (I don't know how to pronounce that), there are a number of questions posed by the story for which I don't have any easy answers. Among those questions are how far can science go before it becomes antithetical to the human experience? It also shows how resilient a human under duress can be, and how a situation like that leads to the best within ourselves.
Perhaps the most clear way to describe "The OA" is to say that at the end of episode 8 I was crying like a proverbial infant. They were tears of joy as I realized a great truth in life. I hope others have a similar experience.
There are very few programs or films that have impacted my life. "The OA" is now one of them. Directed and co-written by Sal Batmanglij (I don't know how to pronounce that), there are a number of questions posed by the story for which I don't have any easy answers. Among those questions are how far can science go before it becomes antithetical to the human experience? It also shows how resilient a human under duress can be, and how a situation like that leads to the best within ourselves.
Perhaps the most clear way to describe "The OA" is to say that at the end of episode 8 I was crying like a proverbial infant. They were tears of joy as I realized a great truth in life. I hope others have a similar experience.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
(2016)
The fall of the Empire begins with "Rogue One."
18 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Having lived through the initial pandemonium that was the original Star Wars film, I have been a loyal follower of the evolution of Star Wars over the years. Now we have a stand alone film set within the Star Wars universe, which is certainly a curiosity. So for "Rogue One" I was very open minded, not knowing what to expect and willing to form an opinion based on the presentation. In other words, I tried not to have either any expectations or preconceptions when I went into the theater to see the film.
I have to admit I had to overcome an initial feeling of "this is boring" before I became immersed in the story. Once I did so, I found a movie that was expertly crafted. From the dialogue to the action sequences, the various details were handled in such a way as to create an experience that ended up being very effectively bittersweet, much like "The Empire Strikes Back."
*Spoilers Ahead*
Star Wars fans know that the Death Star plans were stolen and used to help destroy that planet-killer in "A New Hope." "Rogue One" is the story of how those plans were actually acquired, and the sacrifices made by many people in order to get those plans. "Rogue One" is the most adult Star Wars film, and the characters are not one-dimensional. The film shows a side of the rebels fighting the Empire we haven't seen before. These people are gritty, not necessarily nice, and possess personal baggage appropriate for those involved with an underground war against an established government.
The direction, by Gareth Edwards, is quite probably the best of the entire Star Wars series. The story moves along crisply, and the actors are put through their paces with aplomb. There aren't any wasted moments, and there is an underlying seriousness that is absent in all the other Star Wars movies. There is no over-the-top acting in "Rogue One," and the screenplay doesn't possess that element of corniness we've come to expect from Star Wars films. I wish Edwards was directing Episode VIII, but that film is being directed by Rian Johnson. I just hope Johnson does as good a job with "The Last Jedi" as Edwards did with "Rogue One."
Of special note are the set designs in "Rogue One." The locations and sets are unique to the Star Wars series for the most part, and the look and feel of the props, costumes and sets capture something that seems missing from the other Star Wars films. I guess the best way to put it is that there was an element of realism in "Rogue One" that seems missing from the other movies.
I suppose that with the success of "Rogue One" we will be treated to other stand alone films that will fill in gaps in the overall Star Wars saga. I hope that happens, but we'll have to wait and see.
I have to admit I had to overcome an initial feeling of "this is boring" before I became immersed in the story. Once I did so, I found a movie that was expertly crafted. From the dialogue to the action sequences, the various details were handled in such a way as to create an experience that ended up being very effectively bittersweet, much like "The Empire Strikes Back."
*Spoilers Ahead*
Star Wars fans know that the Death Star plans were stolen and used to help destroy that planet-killer in "A New Hope." "Rogue One" is the story of how those plans were actually acquired, and the sacrifices made by many people in order to get those plans. "Rogue One" is the most adult Star Wars film, and the characters are not one-dimensional. The film shows a side of the rebels fighting the Empire we haven't seen before. These people are gritty, not necessarily nice, and possess personal baggage appropriate for those involved with an underground war against an established government.
The direction, by Gareth Edwards, is quite probably the best of the entire Star Wars series. The story moves along crisply, and the actors are put through their paces with aplomb. There aren't any wasted moments, and there is an underlying seriousness that is absent in all the other Star Wars movies. There is no over-the-top acting in "Rogue One," and the screenplay doesn't possess that element of corniness we've come to expect from Star Wars films. I wish Edwards was directing Episode VIII, but that film is being directed by Rian Johnson. I just hope Johnson does as good a job with "The Last Jedi" as Edwards did with "Rogue One."
Of special note are the set designs in "Rogue One." The locations and sets are unique to the Star Wars series for the most part, and the look and feel of the props, costumes and sets capture something that seems missing from the other Star Wars films. I guess the best way to put it is that there was an element of realism in "Rogue One" that seems missing from the other movies.
I suppose that with the success of "Rogue One" we will be treated to other stand alone films that will fill in gaps in the overall Star Wars saga. I hope that happens, but we'll have to wait and see.
Arrival
(II) (2016)
The Aliens Are Here. Now what?
25 December 2016
Thought provoking? Certainly. Deliberately paced and quiet in its intensity? Absolutely. In the end, though, "Arrival" is about perception. How we relate to the reality around us, and how we interact with others is defined by our view of existence. Perception is the foundation upon which communication rests. We cannot understand someone else when their perspective is foreign to us. For example, I'm an American. When I talk about aspects of our society that are uniquely ours, those with no experience with those aspects simply won't understand what is really meant if I say that "Dave stole 2nd base." A person with no exposure to the sport of baseball would think that Dave was a thief. Imagine, then, how would we learn to communicate with extra terrestrial beings who have absolutely no relationships with those things that are a part of the human experience? How to work around the differences in perception between homo sapiens and none terrestrial alien visitors lies at the heart of "Arrival."
In the film, Amy Adams stars in the role of a world class linguist, Dr. Louise Banks. Jeremy Renner co-stars as physicist Dr. Ian Donnely. The two are tasked by the military to figure out how to communicate with aliens who've come to Earth, specifically to Montana and 11 other locations around the globe. All the countries where the aliens have appeared work simultaneously to decipher the alien language, but it is Dr. Banks who makes the most progress as the film moves along. I don't want to say anything more about the plot of the film, as to do so would give away those things that should come as a surprise to viewers.
The film is directed by Denis Villeneuve, who also directed the 2015 film "Sicarro" among others. Besides Adams and Renner, other featured players in the film include Forest Whitaker (as Colonel Weber) and Tzi Ma (as Chinese general Shang). "Arrival" is based on a short literary work by Ted Chiang called "Story of Your Life". I have not read the story so cannot compare it with film.
"Arrival" is one of those movies that asks questions that apply not only to what would really happen if aliens came here, but how such a visitation might actually change the world in a remarkable and profound manner. In "Arrival," though, there are more questions than answers. The reason for that is to make sure the audience tries to answer those questions for themselves. It is only through our own reflection that we truly find any answers that have meaning, after all.
In the film, Amy Adams stars in the role of a world class linguist, Dr. Louise Banks. Jeremy Renner co-stars as physicist Dr. Ian Donnely. The two are tasked by the military to figure out how to communicate with aliens who've come to Earth, specifically to Montana and 11 other locations around the globe. All the countries where the aliens have appeared work simultaneously to decipher the alien language, but it is Dr. Banks who makes the most progress as the film moves along. I don't want to say anything more about the plot of the film, as to do so would give away those things that should come as a surprise to viewers.
The film is directed by Denis Villeneuve, who also directed the 2015 film "Sicarro" among others. Besides Adams and Renner, other featured players in the film include Forest Whitaker (as Colonel Weber) and Tzi Ma (as Chinese general Shang). "Arrival" is based on a short literary work by Ted Chiang called "Story of Your Life". I have not read the story so cannot compare it with film.
"Arrival" is one of those movies that asks questions that apply not only to what would really happen if aliens came here, but how such a visitation might actually change the world in a remarkable and profound manner. In "Arrival," though, there are more questions than answers. The reason for that is to make sure the audience tries to answer those questions for themselves. It is only through our own reflection that we truly find any answers that have meaning, after all.
The Man in the High Castle
(2015–2019)
Season Two is Here!
17 December 2016
OK, we have arrived at season two of "The Man in the High Castle." Something that I have been anticipating since the end of season one. I love the show, let's make that clear up front, but I have to wonder: in the end where is the show going? I presume (and hope) those responsible aren't planning on doing what AMC is doing with "The Walking Dead," and just simply keep going on until the money runs out. Admittedly, I've only watched episode 1 of season 2, so perhaps it ends after the final episode of this season.
Season 2 begins where season 1 ended, and everything that can be weird continues to be so. I don't want to give away anything, so I won't really get into the plot or story here. What I want to do is provide my feelings regarding the show as an overview. For example, the acting is almost uniformly outstanding. My only complaint (if you want to call it that) is Alexa Davalos has played her role (Juliana) with the same look on her face in every scene. It is as if she doesn't believe she is actually there.
There are some variations from the novel upon which this show is based, so I'm not going to compare the two. What counts here is that this Amazon produced series has been outstanding up to this point. I cannot compliment the writing staff (whose names I can't seem to find) enough about the job they've done with the show up to now. There is such a touch of "this is what it would actually be like" to each episode I've seen that I find myself completely drawn in to this alternate reality. It reminds me of how I felt after the first episode of the newer version of "Battlestar Galactica."
Perhaps one of the most important lessons to be learned from "The Man in the High Castle" is that all of us are human. Even the most evil among us are still human beings. I think that might be something to consider and ruminate upon.
Season 2 begins where season 1 ended, and everything that can be weird continues to be so. I don't want to give away anything, so I won't really get into the plot or story here. What I want to do is provide my feelings regarding the show as an overview. For example, the acting is almost uniformly outstanding. My only complaint (if you want to call it that) is Alexa Davalos has played her role (Juliana) with the same look on her face in every scene. It is as if she doesn't believe she is actually there.
There are some variations from the novel upon which this show is based, so I'm not going to compare the two. What counts here is that this Amazon produced series has been outstanding up to this point. I cannot compliment the writing staff (whose names I can't seem to find) enough about the job they've done with the show up to now. There is such a touch of "this is what it would actually be like" to each episode I've seen that I find myself completely drawn in to this alternate reality. It reminds me of how I felt after the first episode of the newer version of "Battlestar Galactica."
Perhaps one of the most important lessons to be learned from "The Man in the High Castle" is that all of us are human. Even the most evil among us are still human beings. I think that might be something to consider and ruminate upon.
Dark Matter
(2015–2017)
Dark is the operative word in this unpredictable new series.
25 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Besides having two of the sexiest women alive in the cast (Melissa O'Neil and Melanie Liburd), "Dark Matter" is one wild ride. When I started watching it, I expected it would peter out into predictability once the first few episodes had passed. That has not been the case. Although it borrows concepts general to science fiction, it has twisted some of them into knots, and I cannot predict where the show is going. That is a good thing.
I'm about half way through watching season 2, and although the 2nd season starts a bit slowly, it has picked up speed and where it is headed, I just don't know. Also, it is unusual to see "heroes" with such dark sides as have the crew of the Raza, the spaceship in which 6 people (and one android) wake up inside with no memories of their pasts (season one).
The cast is uniformly excellent, and features a couple of "Stargate" veterans, David Hewlett and Torri Higginson in intermittent roles. Also, Amanda Tapping is listed in the cast on IMDb. I haven't seen her yet, so I suspect she is in an upcoming episode.
I recommend this series to anyone looking for something different, for it is, indeed, that.
I'm about half way through watching season 2, and although the 2nd season starts a bit slowly, it has picked up speed and where it is headed, I just don't know. Also, it is unusual to see "heroes" with such dark sides as have the crew of the Raza, the spaceship in which 6 people (and one android) wake up inside with no memories of their pasts (season one).
The cast is uniformly excellent, and features a couple of "Stargate" veterans, David Hewlett and Torri Higginson in intermittent roles. Also, Amanda Tapping is listed in the cast on IMDb. I haven't seen her yet, so I suspect she is in an upcoming episode.
I recommend this series to anyone looking for something different, for it is, indeed, that.
Designated Survivor
(2016–2019)
Captivating and disturbing, "Designated Survivor" is a great new television show.
21 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I read another IMDb review of "Designated Survivor" prior to beginning this review. That review and mine are total opposites. I have found the show to be extraordinary. The suspense is palpable, and the immediacy and relevance are absolutely on point. The show is about what happens when the U.S. loses its entire government in a single, vicious, terror attack. The attack occurs during the State of the Union address when the President, Vice President, the members of the House and Senate, as well as other high level government officials are all assembled in one place, the U.S. Capitol building.
Whenever there is an assembly such as one that occurs during a State of the Union address, a person, a minor government official, is kept at a secure site and is designated as the person to succeed the President should the unthinkable happen. Kiefer Sutherland plays that "designated survivor." As secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Tom Kirkman (Sutherland) is 11th in line of succession. He is not considered a strong leader, and he meets with resistance to his leadership almost immediately. Kirkman has one obvious strength, though. He is a good man.
Married, with two children, Kirkman has to change from suburban denizen, with traditional problems, into the leader of the free world in a matter of minutes. Anyone faced with that situation is going to have problems, and Kirkman certainly has to deal with those immediately upon taking the oath of office.
"Designated Survivor" is thrilling, provocative, and compelling. This is one of the best new TV series, without a doubt.
Whenever there is an assembly such as one that occurs during a State of the Union address, a person, a minor government official, is kept at a secure site and is designated as the person to succeed the President should the unthinkable happen. Kiefer Sutherland plays that "designated survivor." As secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Tom Kirkman (Sutherland) is 11th in line of succession. He is not considered a strong leader, and he meets with resistance to his leadership almost immediately. Kirkman has one obvious strength, though. He is a good man.
Married, with two children, Kirkman has to change from suburban denizen, with traditional problems, into the leader of the free world in a matter of minutes. Anyone faced with that situation is going to have problems, and Kirkman certainly has to deal with those immediately upon taking the oath of office.
"Designated Survivor" is thrilling, provocative, and compelling. This is one of the best new TV series, without a doubt.
Extant
(2014–2015)
Extant: Where Are We Going?
17 July 2014
Warning: Spoilers
The first episode of "Extant" lacked a cohesive vision, in my opinion, such that it just did not really stir the imagination. However, Episode 2 was brilliant, and has made me become, now, a huge fan of the show. Essentially, "Extant" brought itself down to Earth, so to speak, by introducing more mundane elements, as well as explanations, of what could be happening to our heroine, Molly. Not only did the episode make everything seem a bit more "real," it also showed that Molly isn't necessarily the "good guy" we might think she is. There are some flaws in her thinking that have become apparent, and her relationship with her husband is getting dangerously close to becoming strained, to put it mildly.
I was concerned after episode I that the show would be the predictable "alien impregnates human" with the "star child" being the "savior" of mankind. After episode 2, however, it is no longer a given that Molly is pregnant due to alien intervention, and that, although there are clues suggesting alien involvement, nothing is a given on the show any longer. I went from being skeptical and wary, to buying into the show completely. Episode 2 is nothing short of terrific television, and I am eagerly anticipating the remaining episodes.
I was concerned after episode I that the show would be the predictable "alien impregnates human" with the "star child" being the "savior" of mankind. After episode 2, however, it is no longer a given that Molly is pregnant due to alien intervention, and that, although there are clues suggesting alien involvement, nothing is a given on the show any longer. I went from being skeptical and wary, to buying into the show completely. Episode 2 is nothing short of terrific television, and I am eagerly anticipating the remaining episodes.
Under the Dome
(2013–2015)
The premier episode is engrossing and promises to be a summer time hit.
26 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Once I got past feeling like the new CBS mini-series "Under the Dome" was somehow ripping off "The Simpsons Movie," I found myself engrossed by, and involved with this television show. It is set in a by now familiar landscape, the small town of Chester's Mill located in Stephen King's garden of settings, Maine. I have not read his novel upon which the series is based, and I presume that is a good thing, since I am free to question everything that happened, and will happen, without knowing the answers in advance.
The cast of the show features some familiar faces, such as Dean Norris as "Big Jim" Rennie, and Jeff Fahey as the town Sheriff, Duke Perkins. I am unfamiliar with the other actors introduced in the premier episode, but that doesn't mean they are "newcomers." Of note are Mike Vogel as Dale "Barbie" Barbara, and Rachelle Lefevre as Julia Shumway. I won't mention the rest of the cast here, as there are a number of primary characters it seems, and I don't want to get involved with simply naming people in this review.
The story involves Chester's Mill being encased in some kind of invisible energy barrier that cuts the town off from power, sound, and any means of contacting the outside world (other than holding up hand written signs for people on the other side to read). As episode one concludes, it is anybody's guess as to why this dome has appeared over the town, and whether or not there is a way to dig under it. No one, yet, has made any attempt to dig, so that remains to be seen. I suspect what will be revealed later is that the town is actually inside a bubble, not just a dome, but we'll see.
Several people are killed by the dome, via car and air crashes, and some others are injured either severely or moderately. Unfortunately, the town's doctor is (apparently) on the other side when the dome appears, so the local hospital is forced to deal with the catastrophe without the best possible medical help. Another issue is that the town's fire department is without most, or all, of its trucks, which were participating in a parade in another town when the dome appeared. Essentially, the town is left with a Councilman (Rennie), the police Chief (Perkins) and his seemingly wet-behind-the-ears deputy, Linda Esquivel (played by Natalie Martinez).
I am certainly going to keep watching the show, and if the rest of the episodes are as good as the first one, this mini-series might just break some ratings records. It is worthy viewing for science fiction fans, as well as anyone who appreciates a good mystery, and I highly recommend it.
Directed by Jack Bender, who keeps things moving with superb pacing in the series opener, there are to be a total of 13 episodes lasting over the summer months, airing every Monday night on CBS.
The cast of the show features some familiar faces, such as Dean Norris as "Big Jim" Rennie, and Jeff Fahey as the town Sheriff, Duke Perkins. I am unfamiliar with the other actors introduced in the premier episode, but that doesn't mean they are "newcomers." Of note are Mike Vogel as Dale "Barbie" Barbara, and Rachelle Lefevre as Julia Shumway. I won't mention the rest of the cast here, as there are a number of primary characters it seems, and I don't want to get involved with simply naming people in this review.
The story involves Chester's Mill being encased in some kind of invisible energy barrier that cuts the town off from power, sound, and any means of contacting the outside world (other than holding up hand written signs for people on the other side to read). As episode one concludes, it is anybody's guess as to why this dome has appeared over the town, and whether or not there is a way to dig under it. No one, yet, has made any attempt to dig, so that remains to be seen. I suspect what will be revealed later is that the town is actually inside a bubble, not just a dome, but we'll see.
Several people are killed by the dome, via car and air crashes, and some others are injured either severely or moderately. Unfortunately, the town's doctor is (apparently) on the other side when the dome appears, so the local hospital is forced to deal with the catastrophe without the best possible medical help. Another issue is that the town's fire department is without most, or all, of its trucks, which were participating in a parade in another town when the dome appeared. Essentially, the town is left with a Councilman (Rennie), the police Chief (Perkins) and his seemingly wet-behind-the-ears deputy, Linda Esquivel (played by Natalie Martinez).
I am certainly going to keep watching the show, and if the rest of the episodes are as good as the first one, this mini-series might just break some ratings records. It is worthy viewing for science fiction fans, as well as anyone who appreciates a good mystery, and I highly recommend it.
Directed by Jack Bender, who keeps things moving with superb pacing in the series opener, there are to be a total of 13 episodes lasting over the summer months, airing every Monday night on CBS.
Traitor
(2008)
"Excellent" - Mr. Burns voice
13 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This movie had the most hysterically funny ending I have seen, ever, in a movie. Deadly serious up to the end, what happens is a benchmark for, and a lesson on how to create something that defines the attributes of cleverness. And that cleverness is found within this film by the to-the-guts hysteria delivered in the end.
The title, "Traitor," refers to the Don Cheadle character who is an American Muslim. He is also part of a network of Middle Eastern Muslim terrorists.
He becomes the key figure in a plot to make simultaneous attacks within U.S. soil, to be carried out by people recruited years earlier. These people are "sleepers," who appear to be average American citizens.
Much of the story shown takes place inside jails and detention facilities where we meet people who are terrorists, as we like to think of them. I think there is some even-handedness shown by the directors approach to when we see depictions of groups of Muslim prisoners on the screen. They aren't all terrorists, actually, and it is true that the vast majority of them, both inside and outside the prisons, are not. But like everywhere, bad apples always spoil their bunches, and I believe I gained a perspective I might not have now, had I not seen this movie.
The title, "Traitor," refers to the Don Cheadle character who is an American Muslim. He is also part of a network of Middle Eastern Muslim terrorists.
He becomes the key figure in a plot to make simultaneous attacks within U.S. soil, to be carried out by people recruited years earlier. These people are "sleepers," who appear to be average American citizens.
Much of the story shown takes place inside jails and detention facilities where we meet people who are terrorists, as we like to think of them. I think there is some even-handedness shown by the directors approach to when we see depictions of groups of Muslim prisoners on the screen. They aren't all terrorists, actually, and it is true that the vast majority of them, both inside and outside the prisons, are not. But like everywhere, bad apples always spoil their bunches, and I believe I gained a perspective I might not have now, had I not seen this movie.
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