ryfjstc47 Reviews

Commander in Chief (2005–2006)

Too much of a threat?

[13 February 2006]

WHY IN THE WORLD HAS THIS EXCELLENT TV PROGRAM BEEN SHELVED? Pretty good chance it was because of political reasons. This series of stunning presidential decision-making opened a door. Viewers could become more politically astute---could realize there are political alternatives. To some people, this show may seem too idealistic, but it told how things could be done "another way"---with savvy and vision, and a real concern for the people---all people. Spilling blood certainly did not take precedence. '

You have to admit, getting it shelved is one way of inflicting invisible censorship---nothing to do with poor ratings.

I, my whole family, neighbors and much of my community were regular watchers of this show. We finally saw people we could refer to as good role models.

Shelved for six weeks pretty well means a death knell, unless enough people speak up. I've written to ABC, but it will take lots of people.

Blue Velvet (1986)

Not healthy

[1/10 · 13 February 2006]

The actors are doing their job. I've always enjoyed Kyle MacLachlan. I think what concerns me the most is that, while this movie is listed as one of the worst regarding its perverse theme, a significant number of viewers found it much less exciting than they had anticipated. One individual said that his first viewing of it caused intense disgust and horror, but then after a decade or so, when he viewed it for the second time, he found it interesting and possibly informative. This particular viewer thought that he had matured sufficiently to better appreciate what Blue Velvet had to say. However, it seems to me, considering the responses of many young people, our later generations of viewers have come to accept as near normal, much of what earlier generations would not have accepted either as normal or exciting to view.

In some cases understanding the darker side would be admirable, but when it comes to accepting sadomasochism as interesting or normal, it's like the story of the woman during wartime, being tortured before she managed to escape to the US. Her torturer electrified, burned and skewered pieces of flesh off her, ravaged her private parts and listened to her screams, before checking his watch and calling his wife to casually tell her he would be late for supper. Extreme, intentional cruelty was totally accepted as part of his daily business.