Supernatural: Season 2

supernatural "hell breaks loose"
Originally uploaded by ..it's junah!

One of the things that I love about watching television shows on DVD is that I can be pulled into the world of the characters much longer than I can be pulled into the world of a film – 22 episodes instead of 2-3 hours. Maybe my subconscious has needed the extended escapism, but lately I’ve been watching a lot of TV on DVD – I’ve been burning through BSG and somehow managed to slowly get through another season of Supernatural.

I really think I’ve been using Supernatural as my radio. What I mean is that I plug it on in the background while I am doing something else. I’ve already seen it, so I have context and know the world and characters, and all I have to do is select “play all” and I don’t have to change a disc for quite awhile. And it totally beats just turning the TV on and having to deal with commercials.

Season two is definitely pivotal to the show. While I will be waiting to see how the series ends, I am slowly coming to the idea that while the show is about the brothers Winchester, I think the slightly more central focus of the character is Dean. Sam is incredibly important but almost everything having to do with the show comes back to Dean and how he responds to Sam, his father, the apocalypse, etc. Dean from the very first episode of the series is the one to get things rolling between the brothers.

I really don’t want this show to end after only five seasons, but if they do choose to end the show this year I sure hope it goes out with a bang. Too many series have finales that make you feel the time you’ve invested into the show wasn’t worth it, and I really don’t want Supernatural to do the same, but with the direction the show has always been headed I really don’t think I have to worry.

Sam: At least I'm not afraid of flying.
Dean: Planes crash, Sam!
Sam: And apparently clowns kill!
~Everybody Loves A Clown~

Oedipus Rex

Toronto International Film Festival
Originally uploaded by jbach

When I found out Julie Taymor had directed a version of Oedipus Rex and it was on DVD there was no doubt that I needed to find it. Enter the hero of the piece – Netflix. Thank God for Netflix, helping geeks like me find the most obscure things possible.

I had to see this because Julie Taymor has only made three feature films and has captivated me with them. The way she integrates genres, art, color and space is fascinating and astoundingly beautiful to me and knowing she’s primarily a stage director I had to see her stage work. If you’re not familiar with Titus, Frida or Across the Universe I can almost guarantee you’ve heard of the most popular thing she adapted for the stage – The Lion King.

What I didn’t realize about this version of Oedipus Rex was that it was in Japanese, done for a play festival in Japan but that makes it even more interesting. Taymor melded together Japanese dance, fashion, make-up and tradition with Greek masks, and her signature puppets and use of color and created a visually riveting production. This was a special taping, done for the camera not the audience so the recordnign is not static, but I can only imagine how beautiful this must have been to see in person.

I recommend any of Julie Taymor’s work to anyone that appreciated different and beautiful film. She’s captivating and I can only hope that another movie will come her way before too long.

Battlestar Galactica 3.0

I love television shows that consistently try to top themselves. Battlestar Galactica is one of those shows. If possible, season three is even better than the seasons before it.

Season three starts after the Cylon occupation; the humans have again formed a resistance and Adama is fighting to get back to the people he was forced to abandon. Once the humans break free of New Caprica a whole other can of worms is unveiled: Starbuck pursues her destiny, Apollo struggles with his military career, Baltar goes on trial and four of the final five Cylons are revealed. This season is a roller coaster from start to finish.

Perhaps one of the more fascinating things that happens in season three is how the time jump is handled. In a poorly crafted show the loss of time would be felt, our characters growth wouldn’t make sense and more than anything we as an audience would be confused. BSG is not a poorly crafted show. The writers are able to use the time lapse to our advantage, showing us the crucial moments for each character, and making sure that the movement in each character is still grounded in who that person was before we flashed a year into the future. They make sure that despite the change of circumstance the human heart of the show is intact.

It’s also fascinating that in season three time is finally spent with the Cylons. The writers once again help to evolve the Cylons from a faceless enemy to a complex race that only appears deceptively simple. They are in essence flawed children trying to grow up and unfold the mystery of the human parents, account for their past sins and find the meaning of their lives. This does not make them innocent, but as time moves on it makes them more human than their programming would ever care to admit.

My favorite character, Sharon, goes through what I think is the best single character arch in this season of the show as well. Grace Park is a phenomenal actor and I applaud her performance in every season of this show.

I can’t give too much away about the show in general as while I’m not afraid people won’t enjoy the show if they know what happens, but I want anyone who hasn’t seen BSG to enjoy sitting on the edge of their seat, fretting over the fate of characters and cheering in victory just like everyone else does who comes at it with fresh eyes. This is one show that is thoroughly enjoyable.

Adama: This is the Admiral. You've heard the news, you know the mission. You should also know there is only one way that this mission ends: and that's with the successful rescue of our people, off of New Caprica. Look around you. Take a good look at the men and women that stand next to you. Remember their faces, for one day you will tell your children and your grandchildren that you served with such men and women as the universe has never seen. And together, you'll accomplish the feat that will be told and retold down through the ages, and find immortality as only the gods once knew. I'm proud to serve with you. Good hunting.

When Harry Met Sally

Harry and Sally's Love Story
Originally uploaded by pineappleupsidedown

I’ve said it before and I will say it again: When Harry Met Sally = incredible. I could watch this movie any time and find it just as funny as I did the first time I watched it, that is part of why it is so good. This film is incredibly well crafted and because of this it stands the test of time; the film may be set in the 1980’s but it hasn’t aged a day.

I miss Meg Ryan. It’s been far too long since she’s been in a comedy and I want to see her on screen again. Sally Albright might be her trademark role & I have that forever, but I do want to see her onscreen, in good work again. If Sandra Bullock can score an Oscar this year for The Blindside then Meg had a shot at being recognized for her talent someday too.

Harry Burns: Had my dream again where I'm making love, and the Olympic judges are watching. I'd nailed the compulsories, so this is it, the finals. I got a 9.8 from the Canadians, a perfect 10 from the Americans, and my mother, disguised as an East German judge, gave me a 5.6. Must have been the dismount.

It's Complicated

bde2b003382e
Originally uploaded by aboutmerylstreepvn2

Jane and Jake have been divorced for 10 years and Jane isn’t looking for love, what she’s looking for is to start the addition to her house after dreaming of it for years. However, things get complicated when Jane and Jake go to New York for their son Luke’s graduation – the two get hammered and end up sleeping together. This starts an affair where Jane is the other woman, while Jake cheats on Agnes, his wife and the woman he originally left Jane for. All while this is happening their daughter Lauren is planning her wedding to fiancée Harley and Jane’s architect Adam begins to pursue her.

It’s Complicated is a comedy that I went into expecting it to be funny, but I thought it would be the polite, adult, intellectual giggle kind of comedy. Nope. I (and most of the audience) laughed so hard at points in this film that dialogue was missed – I haven’t done that since Tropic Thunder. Nancy Meyers hit it out of the park with It’s Complicated and made a wonderful comedy, and probably one of my favorite films of the year by delivering an intelligent, funny script and combining it with good direction and the perfect cast.

One of the huge appeals for me in It’s Complicated was the three stars – Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin & Steve Martin. The comedic timing, chemistry and talent these three have on screen in the film is incredible and even though each are huge stars in their own right none of them steals scenes from one another. All three are a perfect pairing.

The character that I actually stole the film for me was Harley played by John Krasinski. Harley is Lauren’s fiancée and a perfect for their family unit. So perfect in fact when he discovers the affair between Jake and Jane he knows he needs to cover it up. Harley is one of the funniest characters in the film and Krasinski manages to be just as memorable as Streep, Baldwin & Martin which is not an easy task.

Perhaps the one thing that makes It’s Complicated truly great is that it’s not a chick flick, it’s just a well made, funny film that can be enjoyed by almost any audience. When I went to the theatre to see this film the audience crossed the spectrum or couples, individuals, young and old and the entire audience was laughing just as hard as I was.

Director & Writer: Nancy Meyers
Jane: Meryl Streep
Adam: Steve Martin
Jake: Alec Baldwin
Harley: John Krasinski
Agness: Lake Bell
Trisha: Rita Wilson

Harley: Are you smoking WEED in the guest bathroom?
Jake: Yes we are, and we'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone?
Harley: Oh no. Of course not. Just add it to the list.