Reviews

Jeremy Clarkson was recently asked by Steve Kroft on 60 Minutes "What do you look for in a car?" and the response was "soul" and I believe the same question and answer can be applied to Top Gear USA. This show has no soul, no x-factor or enthusiasm. In a word, it's just dull or boring if you will.

I'm a big fan of Top Gear (UK) and no matter how open minded I tried to be, instinctively I was going to compare TGUSA to TGUK. In spite of my bias I really did want to give it a chance. But it was so boring, I had to fight the urge to watch something else but I said I would get it a chance.

The first episode was very hard to get through and I hope the second will be better but I'm not planning on holding my breath because I have some serious doubts it can improve. I'm hopefull this show will improve because doing Top Gear in North America has great potential but it will never reach that potential if there is no soul, x-factor or enthusiasm.

What makes "St. Elsewhere" stand apart from "E.R.", "Grey's Anatomy" or any other medical show in the last twenty years is a simple and yet timeless theme. The theme being people who are basically good, well intentioned but screwed up their personal lives. These people are also working in what is considered to be a second-rate hospital but you quickly realize they are first rate professionals and human beings.

Since in the twenty-plus years since "St. Elsewhere" Aaron Sorkin has mastered the basics that made this show a pleasure to watch. Personally, I like watching a group of people who care in a difficult situation. That's the essence of good drama and something that's been seen less and less on networks in the last two decades. I won't spoil the end of the series but let me say this "aren't we all?"

I was suffering from a bout of insomnia a few nights ago and was flipping through some of the cable channels. I landed on Showtime and found this documentary "I Am Comic" and it had me hooked. While I loved Jerry Seinfeld's "Comedian" it was a bit lite on the life of a stand-up comic. However this one is darker but in a good way and even before the aforementioned "Comedian" I've always been intrigued by the mechanics of stand up comedy.

"I Am Comic" definitely digs deep into the world they inhabit and what they put them selves through to make us laugh on a regular basis. I thought the interviews of every kind of comedian were done very well but some faces were obviously missing but if they included every big name comic in the US it would probably be about three hours long. Anyway, if anyone accidentally stumbles across this movie, take sometime out of your day and give it a look.

They've been doing LON for a little while now and I'm surprised to find no comments on it. Granted, it doesn't have the name Joss Wheadon and the fame of Nathan Fillion or Neil Patrick Harris in "Doctor Horribles Sing Along Blog" but it's every bit as funny. Considering the low budget nature of LON the production values are amazing and when the effects or the setting is obviously low budget it serves the joke and delivers the laugh.

The series was created by Sandeep Parikh who is a director, some-times actor and musician. The man is a threat on several levels and I hope he ends up doing bigger and better things. This guy could very well be the next Mike Judge if given the chance and he has a good start already. The actor playing Link / Neil is Tony Janning who is incredibly funny as the reluctant hero who accidentally gets sucked into the world of The Legend Of Zelda (first game).

The rest of the cast is just as funny but obviously Tony Janning is the star here and I hope like the rest of the cast he gets the recognition he deserves. I want to site one other cast member in this series is Eric Acosta who plays Wizrobe. He steals the scene every time he is on screen which are mostly with Gannon. He reminds of a happier version of Ben Stiller and just as funny.

Over all this small web based series is incredibly funny and despite the fact that the episodes are generally under four minutes they manage to pack every moment with jokes. Before I wrap up my interview I know mentioned Joss Wheadon's "Doctor Horrible" and it is funny but LON did it's own musical episode this second season. Felicia Day who was in "Doctor Horrible" is also the nymph fairy in LON. This is not intended as a spoiler but at the beginning of the musical episode when a male fairy tries to get her to sing she says "Well, I'm not really into online musicals" That's a very funny line considering what she had done before LON.

Bottom line, I encourage everyone to check out this series because it will make you laugh every time.

I wouldn't say this is the best small budget sci-fi movie ever made but its up there. To correct a previous review, the movie takes place (mostly) in the year 2707. This a future that seems sadly plausible with a unique look and sound. I did think the CGI was done very well and did remind me a little of "Sin City" and "Minority Report" in the almost black & white color scheme.

I did feel the story was less detailed than it should have been because there were elements I was interested in learning more about such as the machine, the current state of the world and the off world colonies. But I suppose some of that wasn't really necessary. Over all, its a good gory action sci-fi movie that actually tries to go beyond gore.

I say remember where and when you saw this show because I believe if Fox gives Talk Show a chance Spike will be right up there with Conan in a few years because like Conan he is incredibly funny and seems to be just grateful at having his own show which adds to the humor.

The funniest bits Spike has had so far are The Idiot Paparatzi and Comedy For Stoners and if your not high and get CFS what does that say about you.

In summary this show is funnier in 25 minutes than SNL in an hour so lets hope Talk Show gets the attention it deserves such as an extra half hour, more money and a band.

This show ranks right up there with "The Future Is Wild" in that it presents some very intriguing ideas with very nice CGI. But unlike TFIW they are showing us a not to distant future, one that may be possible with my life time. I also thought the comments from various scientist was a nice touch since these are the best people to comment on a future mission to another planet. And on a final note, the planet depicted in the show, Darwin IV was a very alien place while yet being similar to earth but seeing what life is like on that planet makes me appreciate our own little blue marble even more. Also, speaking of the name Darwin IV, I would have preferred a name from popular science fiction, possible Hal IV.

When a friend asked me to watch "Batman: Dead End" he had told me it was pretty cool and that it was a short film. Now I'm not a huge fan of short films because they are usually poorly done and over the top but needless to say I was very impressed by this one.

It was surprising to see how Sandy Collora captured the mood of Batman or more specifically the mood from the first two Batman movies. I kept asking my self where did this guy get the Alien and Predator costumes.

My reasoning was that this was just some impressive fan film but I never guessed it had a budget of $30,000 and that Sandy Collora was not just a young fan but rather a very experienced visual effects guy for several major films and worked at Stan Winston studios no less.

This is a man with a very impressive resume including "Batman: Dead End" and I really hope there is a Batman film in this man's future because I would pay eight bucks to see it with out even thinking. Thanks to this short film I now know the name Sandy Collora forever and will be paying attention to everything he does from now on. Good work Sandy! Keep it up!

How anyone could find this show funny is beyond me. Every other joke is about black and white people more offten how white people are bad. I swear Dave must keep those slave chains nice and shiney because he sure likes to drag them out alot.

Anyway, this show is just not funny, plain and simple. Maybe it belongs on BET instead.

The only reason this movie is worth watching is because of the lovely Itonia Salchek. To bad we never saw this hottie again in anything else.

I had planned on buying the DVD for this very reason only to find from several reviews the movie has been cut worse than any of the victums in the movie.

This would be a decent movie by its self but being a TV movie version of Green Acres its lost some of the original humor that made the TV series great.

I do however have to give it points for letting us see the old and new generation of Hooter Ville residents and thats never to bad.

I have never stopped liking The West Wing but when I start working nights I lost track of it and every time I tried to watch it after that it was just totally confusing.

However The Bravo network has given me a second chance so every night at 7:00 just as I am walking in the door I get to see this fantastic series from the beginning.

Oddly enough it's better this way since I am older and slightly more cynical about politics.

In the end this is a great show and I wish we had this real west wing in our world.

This was a great film that the movie trailers hardly did justice. This was every bit the comic book movie it was intended to be and then some.

The split screen frames and transitions looked so much like a comic book that the only thing missing were the speech bubbles.

Over all it was an easy story to follow and left you wanting more.

but I love this movie. At first when my dad first described it as a waste of his time to drive with my uncle (his odd brother) all the way to the boonies to see a free screening. I thought so to but its been on Cinemax a few times and each time I see it I like it a little more. Its true this movie does fall into the realm of B movie because it is so hokey and silly that its hard not to watch. The basket ball scene is just one of these moments.

Over all the whole movie is beyond ridiculous but again very fun to watch because of that. I recomend you check it out when your in a silly mood because its really uplifting in violent sort of way.

This man was suck a snob, he made Alex Trebek look like a first grade teacher. The good moments of this half hour quiz show were when the contestants knew they were being jerked around and decided to goof off. I remember one contestant who shall we say used his middle finger to scratch his forehead. I still wonder who the host was though.

Man the first episode of this series was great. Just a few of the funniest highlights. An exorcism, bile love, beard of bees, old psycho girlfriend nanny, beach kite lightning, vampire boy friend and some kind of large rock on the roof of the house.

The cast of this series is instantly likeable which doesn't happen very often. I love the idea that his family has some kind of curse in which the worst things can happen and its just perfectly normal which makes it all the more funny. I suppose the greatest thing about this gag is that its not over used which could be easy. The gag of being attractors of bad luck is used only when it can be really funny so your not expecting something bad every second which is awesome comedic timing. This in addition to `The Simpson's' `Malcolm in the middle' `Oliver Bean' and now `The Pitts' has made Sunday night on Fox great again. I just hope its around for a while. Btw did I forget to mention its funny as hell, no well it is so tune in and see why this show is not the pits.

-SM

This movie was way better than "Armagedon" I really enjoyed each of the characters which I haven't in movies lately. The story was great along with fairly good acting but I have to say seeing Bruce Greenwood I really really miss "Nowhere Man" but it was great to see him in action again. The journey into the earth was equally fantastic and that ship was totally cool. I haven't seen a ship that cool thats earth based since the Sea Quest. Over all this was a really good movie and one I will buy on DVD the second it comes out.

-SM

Like another reviewer I never really got into PI or "Politically Incorrect" either. I think mainly because it was to short on top of commercials. Also I really felt like Bill Maher had to hold back because he was on network Television. However he is truly at home on HBO where he and his guests can curse what ever they like with out those nasty censors saying no.

I have to say I in addition to the usually very good round table discussion I really like new rules, the comedy bits. I think this show is very well balanced. The idea that now Bill Maher gets to have what guests he wants is great and to have some of them as semi-regular guests is a great consistency.

Honestly I really can't say enough about this show because during the week leading up to Friday and there is big news I just can't wait to see what Bill Maher and his guests are going to say. You know it will make you mad, sad or just plain apathetic.

I have to admit I accidentally found this show one day after getting off of work early and was hooked instantly. This show is way to bizarre for the average viewer but fits me like a three fingered glove. Now I have only seen two episodes and have no clue what's really going on but that doesn't really matter. Its strange and as a fan of Lexx my void has been filled so here's hoping they find the lost city.

I read a review of this series in the USA Today and they were very harsh but none the less I decided to check it out. Well its funnier than they give it credit for. Its fairly inventive and hey with David Cross doing the voice over it can't be all that bad.

-SM

If the Go'uld ever knew we made this cartoon they would never attack this planet. My god these series is painful and I can not believe how utterly cheesy this thing is. I know its pointless to ask by why in the opening credits do they keep using the sound for a Zat while showing us the wormhole???!!!

-SM

Being only 23 years old, Mister Ed was obviously was before my time. I however at an early age caught this LOL show on cable. I have to be honest the only two episodes that really stand out for me is the one with Mister Ed's kite and Clint Eastwood. Also being a huge fan of DVD I would like to see this series released on DVD someday soon because its just to classic to let it fade into TV history.

-SM

There is simply no other way to describe this latest cop drama. It moves fast and furious. It doesn't apologize for being real and truthful because it is what it is. I also must confess I like that this series takes place in LA. Its a very open and scary place for a drama to take place. Watch this series once and you will be hooked for life, I know I am.

-SM