polarpal99 Reviews

The Time Tunnel (1966–1967)

Time to revive this classic

[10/10 · 23 May 2006]

What a shame this fun series only lasted a single season (over money).

This series had one of the coolest time machines to ever hit the screen (with only the DeLorean time machine from the "Back to the Future" rating higher among my personal favorites), a veteran cast and dared to do special effects at the cutting edge (for its time, if you'll pardon my choice of words).

The freedom to pick any time and location let the writers use reckless abandon when they prepared plot lines (which admittedly were corny and predictable, especially for historic events where we knew the expected outcome).

If they could make a movie out of the MUCH cheesier (but still lovable) "Lost in Space", why not revive this as a movie or a series? The effects available today (and trend toward realism) would make this a natural!

Transamerica (2005)

Many Road Trips at Once

[9/10 · 4 February 2006]

*** MAY CONTAIN Spoilers - STOP READING NOW IF YOU HATE SPOILERS ***

This movie is road trip movie with the classic formula of mismatched travelers. Each teaches (and learns from the other) during the geographic and emotional journey they share.

In this case, Bree (Felicity Huffman), a pre-operative male-to-female transsexual who nears her surgery date, is forced to detour from her well-laid plans. Through unforeseen circumstances, she is forced to share a coast-to-coast drive with the son, Toby (Kevin Zegers) she never knew she had (during her pre-transition days, as a man named Stanley).

The two take a journey down the asphalt and down a road covered with the broken glass of two shattered lives, discovering each other's deepest secrets.

The plot has plenty of turns and epitomizes the old John Lennon-ism, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." One can only wonder how Bree saves the money for a sex change, given her financial situation (as indicated by the movie's portrayal of her job life and home life); here the movie asks us to stretch our imaginations a bit.

It leaves less to the imagination in the 'house party' scene during a stop in Texas. (Check the acting credits for those involved with the scene and look for their names online for a deeper look!) This scene --- or more accurately, it's filming and cast--- explains much of how the movie realistically portrays Bree's struggles with such painful accuracy.

The real shame is that the movie will probably NOT make it to wide distribution before Oscar night, so few people will see the movie and experience it messages on love, pain, emotional growth, and grasping for that which is just beyond our reach.

Hopefully, Felicity Huffman's nomination will raise enough interest (in the movie and its topic) to get more people in the theaters before it inevitably starts its journey to the video store.