ljbad Reviews

Angel (1999–2004)

Great, but uneven

[13 April 2005]

All things considered, "Angel" is probably one of my five or ten favorite shows of all time, but, still, I had a lot of problems with it. I loved the main characters -- Angel, Cordy, Doyle, Wesley, Gunn, Fred and Lorne -- but I couldn't stand most of the episodes that dealt heavily with the supporting cast - for example, Kate, Lindsey, Lilah, Connor and Darla. The chemistry between the core is very nearly as good as it was on "Buffy" -- which is to say, much, much better than on most shows -- and there are a number of great standalone episodes through its run; but the bad guys here just didn't hold my interest the way they did on "Buffy," and to this day there are a handful of episodes from seasons 3 and 4 that I've never been able to make it through. Still, I was sad to see it go; season 5 (highlighted by the arrival of Spike, and a couple of visits by Andrew) was easily the best.

House M.D. (2004–2012)

Terrific

[16 February 2005]

Since its debut shortly after the Word Series late last year, "House" has become just about the only show on TV I can't miss - and the first formula series since the early seasons of "Law & Order" that has managed to hold my interest for more than a couple of outings. I don't know if anyone has suggested this yet, but mark my words: if they keep going at this rate, the character of Gregory House will one day be mentioned along with TV's most beloved characters - and not only detectives like Columbo and Kojak. The only possible pitfall is that the show seems intent on telling only standalone stories, which, with its rigid formula (rare disease, red herrings; rinse, lather, repeat), runs the risk of getting old before they've even reached their sophomore season. So far, it hasn't come close to being a problem -- and nobody expects this to have the lifespan of "L&O," after all -- so here's hoping we'll all get to check in with House fairly regularly for the next few years.

EuroTrip (2004)

Dumb fun

[10/10 · 15 January 2005]

This movie gets by on its gags, which, even when they're not laugh-out-loud funny, are usually pretty clever. I didn't laugh, for example, when one of the characters, through a series of unlikely accidents, finds himself heralded as the new pope, but that was okay; I still appreciated the setup. This wouldn't be true if the film didn't maintain such high spirits --- in fact, that same gag would undoubtedly have seemed insufferably puerile. But like the kids from "That '70s Show," the characters here all seem to be in on their own torment. Even when, right in the first five minutes, one of them learns that his girlfriend has been cheating on him (through a rousing rock song performed by her lover at a high school graduation party, in a running gag that, at least by teen sex comedy standards, can only be considered inspired) I didn't find myself cringing so much as laughing at the very idea. Obviously, everything is going to turn out okay for these guys, and if they have to be nearly beaten up by soccer fans in London, or chased by a bunch of lechers on a nude beach, or even violated by a Xena lookalike in an Amsterdam brothel, well, it really is all in good fun. Needless to say, if you didn't like "American Pie" or "Road Trip," you might think twice about coming anywhere near this; but for anyone who enjoyed those movies at all, EuroTrip ought to be a hoot.

Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller (1988)

Fun

[10/10 · 6 January 2005]

I have a few vague memories of watching this on cable years and years ago, laughing at it with my brothers and sister the first time through, then, later, grudgingly admitting that I'd enjoyed it. I can recall only bits and pieces of the actual film, though: some of the characters shrinking themselves onto stamps (was there a dance or a chant involved?), a chase through a bus station (or was it an airport?), and, finally, a scene with a dragon kite in China. I always meant to catch the sequel, but, alas, I kept missing it. The original, anyway, was very imaginative, very fun, and I would love to see it put out on DVD - or at least show up on cable again.

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005–2015)

He's a Natural

[3 January 2005]

I just this moment turned off the first episode of "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," and I must say I was very impressed. It may be a little soon to be singing praises -- we might be seeing beginner's luck here -- but I really don't get that feeling. I see none of the awkwardness that Conan exhibited in his first year (though Conan was a much younger guy); and, while I won't name names, I find Ferguson a lot more watchable (and a lot less smarmy) than a couple of the guys who have been on late night TV this past decade. I had doubts when I heard of CBS' decision to go with him, but now I think they may have been unfounded. Anyway, I love Conan, and I suspect I'll continue to turn to him first after Dave gets done, but I wish Ferguson luck.

Uptown Girls (2003)

Very cute

[28 November 2004]

As other reviewers have suggested, "Uptown Girls" is a hard film to classify: it's not a "comedy," per se, because it isn't funny (and barely even seems to try), but it also isn't particularly dramatic (though there are dramatic elements). I'm reminded of a term I've heard critics use a number of times -- "charmer" -- but only now do I realize how necessary it is to their lexicon. This film's greatest ambition, it seems, is to make its audience smile - and, as far as that goes, it succeeds. I may not have laughed at all for the whole ninety minutes (though I probably did), and I wasn't very moved; but, oh boy, did I smile a lot. Very few movies accomplish even that, so I'm forced to give "Uptown Girls" a strong recommendation.

Jack & Bobby (2004–2005)

Clever but not great

[10 October 2004]

The ads they've been showing for this keep repeating one critic's quote - "The WB has perfected the family drama." And that's really all this is - a pretty good family drama. The political aspects end up serving very little more than Lorelai Gilmore's pop-culture references on "Gilmore Girls" - i.e. they define a particular character quite nicely, but don't really define the show at all. More important -- surprise, surprise -- are Jack's relationships with girls and Bobby's trouble with bullies. I'm not political, myself, but the image that was used to promote the series -- the two brothers lying head to head on the American flag -- as well as the title and the presence of Thomas Schlamme ("Sports Night"), suggested to me something very new and different. Beyond the "future documentary" conceit, though (which, to be fair, represents a greater innovation than most shows), there's just nothing new here at all. That's not to say it isn't worth watching. Just know what you're in for.

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001–2011)

Lame

[29 August 2004]

I'm writing this review out of sheer indignation - indignation which I would've guessed was long forgotten. See, I haven't actually watched this show recently - but somebody mentioned it to me earlier, and all of a sudden the ridiculous plotlines, inept acting and cartoonish characters came flooding back. So once again, I'm mad.

I actually like Vincent D'Onofrio a lot, and I think he and Kathryn Erbe make a good combination - but even they can't save this mess. It's a very inconsistent series, to be fair, and it does occasionally pull off a fascinating psychological study, which is, if not in the slightest bit believable, at least admirably crafted. But these exceptions are few and far between, and most of the time the show suffers from what must be some of the worst writing and acting on television. I like the original L&O -- though it hasn't really gotten it done for me in recent years -- and the first spinoff, "Special Victims Unit," is often very involving. But "Criminal Intent," for the most part, is just criminally bad.

The West Wing (1999–2006)

Overrated

[26 August 2004]

I gave this show a chance; I really wanted to like it, because it was created by Aaron Sorkin, who also created "Sports Night," one of my favorite shows of all time. I've enjoyed a number of episodes somewhat, but I can't help but wonder whether people haven't been fooled into thinking it's better than it is simply because of its ambitious setting. The fast, clever, and occasionally anal-retentive dialog is immediately recognizable from Sorkin's earlier series; but whereas the folks at CSC were just a bunch of twenty- and thirtysomethings producing a cable news show (and could thus be forgiven for spending the bulk of their lives engaged in banter), the people here are supposed to be adults running the entire country - and sometimes I can't help but wish they would just grow up.

Regardless of its faults, I would probably love this show - but I guess I've been spoiled for it. "Sports Night" was a real gem.

You Can't Take It with You (1938)

No? Well, I Wouldn't Want To

[23 August 2004]

As a big fan of Jimmy Stewart, I was pretty keen to catch this when it showed up on TV the other night. I was, to put it mildly, disappointed. There's a sweet, charming movie in this mess somewhere, but we're effectively kept from it by an army of grotesque, ridiculously exaggerated characters who are next to impossible to root for. I wasn't surprised at all to learn that the original play had a much smaller cast; it's clear to me that a shorter film, with a half dozen characters trimmed and the remainder endowed with a degree of self-awareness, would have been twice as enjoyable. As it it is, it may have been fun to write or to film - but it just isn't fun to watch.

"Harvey" and "The Shop Around the Corner" -- two of my favorite Stewart movies -- played the same night, and this one suffered all the more from the comparisons. See those. Skip this.

The Age of Innocence (1993)

A poor adaptation

[19 August 2004]

I confess: I have, as yet, watched only the first half of this film (equivalent to the first book of the novel, if I remember correctly), and I can simply go no further. It lacks so much of the novel's depth -- and what little it does manage to convey, it does in so clumsy a manner -- that I can only wonder whom Scorsese intended it for (the illiterate?).

How much better it might have been if Scorsese had allowed himself to be inspired by the novel, and to set a similar story in that same world - or, perhaps, allowed himself to take a few liberties with Wharton's text, instead of adhering to it so unimaginatively. He did neither, and the result is one of the coldest adaptations I've ever had the displeasure of watching.

Very briefly: Read the book. You'll enjoy it. Skip this.

The Time Machine (2002)

Highly recommended! (for some reason)

[8 August 2004]

This is a dumb, pointless movie - and yet I've seen it two or three times, and I never fail to enjoy it. I guess there are more than a few other movies that this applies to, but, unlike with most, after watching "The Time Machine", I'm not left wondering about "what might have been"; I'm perfectly happy with what they produced. Funny, too, because I've read the book (which I like well enough), and I know this film is not at all true to it. They made a crappy movie here, obviously, and that, somehow, is just fine by me. In fact, I'd like to see more crappy movies like this. Yes, if someone told me of a future film that "It's like that awful Time Machine movie with Jeremy Irons and Guy Pearce," I'd promptly say "Ugh" and run off to buy my own ticket.

28 Days Later (2002)

Quite good

[28 June 2004]

I'm amazed there are so many negative reviews of this film; I thought it succeeded on every level. It's artistic and atmospheric, with a great pace, sympathetic characters, and a fantastic climax. The music is very nicely done, and, to me, the eerie opening scenes of the empty London streets are worth the price of admission all on their own. I'm a stubborn viewer, and, normally, when a film benefits from early critical buzz in the manner that this one did, I find some excuse not to like it. But not this time; I'm completely impressed. (Incidentally, I think it's interesting that while most horror films these days seem to have been inspired by knockoffs of knockoffs, "28 Days Later" apparently owes more to John Wyndham's classic disaster novel "The Day of the Triffids" than to anything else. And that's a good thing.) HIGHLY recommended.

The Jury (2004)

Promising

[8 June 2004]

As a longtime fan of "Twelve Angry Men," the classic You-Are-There jury drama, and as someone who's thoroughly enjoyed Levinson and Fontana's previous TV work, like "Oz," "Homicide" and "The Beat" (does anyone else remember "The Beat"? What a great show!), I had to check this out. I wouldn't say I was overwhelmed by the two episodes I just watched, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see it improve once the creators really get comfortable with the format. Unfortunately, though, if I have one complaint, it is with that very format, which seems to aim to present for us too many perspectives for its own good. Much of the appeal of the courtroom drama -- and of the jury drama -- stems from the knowledge that there may never be a clear answer, and that any decisions that are made may very well go unconfirmed. Having watched two episodes already, though, I know that the creators mean to reveal to us the nature of the crime at the end of its respective episode - in other words, to let us know whether the jury judged correctly. This simply strikes me as too neat, and I'm afraid that, by putting too much distance between the viewer and the jury, the inherent drama of the deliberations will be undermined. But I may be wrong. In any case, it's a very stylish show, and it's definitely worth a look.

The Anti Gravity Room (1995–1997)

Bottled Cool

[14 March 2004]

Greetings, fellow Pepsi drinkers. I used to watch this show every week on the Sci-Fi channel, which carried it here in the U.S. (it was aired on YTV in Canada, where I seem to recall reading it evolved from a cable-access series). Lively and well-produced, it was basically a fanboy newsmagazine, with Phil (in Toronto) and Nick (in New York, sporting any of various bright haircolors) reviewing comic books, video games and sci-fi. I remember feeling terribly uncool while watching - but, believe me, I'm a pretty cool guy; it's just that Phil and Nick (and their various guest hosts, including Ben Stiller and Kevin Smith) were a few million degrees cooler. I was, however, able to take solace in the fact that neither seemed to appreciate Sailor Moon, which first arrived in North America during the run of this series. (In fact, they were a tad harsh on it - the losers.) Regardless, I always wanted to be like Nick. He was soooooo cool! In fact, the whole show was just a helluva lot of fun to watch.

Firefly (2002–2003)

Really, really good

[17 January 2004]

Most shows, specifically action series with unusual premises, either take a *real* long while to get into gear, or simply spin their wheels for season after season, telling stale stories and never truly establishing the characters. Not so with Joss Whedon's creations; watch a first-season episode of "Buffy" or "Angel," and you might suppose the actors have been working together for years, and that their respective series has gone through a painful self-actualization process.

"Firefly," Whedon's latest series, which was pulled by FOX after only a handful of airings, could've been a real mess; it's a more literal interpretation of the space western, down to the use of real guns and pseudo cowboy speak - though the creators reserved the right to bring in high technology whenever they saw fit. It works very nicely, so besides being engrossing and clever, Firefly is just a heckuva nifty-looking show.

The entire series is avilable on DVD. Consider this a strong recommendation.