Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape Reel Reviews And Other Works: 2011

30 August 2011

A Hollywood Mogul

SNEAK PEAK: Alex O’ Loughlin and Simon Baker in prison charged with murder – [CBS’] “Hawaii Five-O” and “The Mentalist” season premieres! And, ‘House’ is in the big house on FOX! [HBO’s] “True Blood” season finale (11 September) will finally reveal Sookie’s love choice! Sir Paul McCartney [producing? hosting? both?] a 9/11 benefit concert. FX’s firehouse (“Rescue Me”) is shutting down. The “Miracle Day” of ‘Torchwood’ is coming to a sacrificial end? And, the “Sons of Anarchy” are free.

PICKS OF THE WEEK: “Alphas” (SYF); “Ancient Aliens” (HIS); “Backdraft” (HBO); “Burn Notice” (USA); “Degrassi” (THN); “Dinosaur Revolution” (DSC); “Doctor Who” (BBC); “Eureka” (SYF); “Family Guy” (FOX); “Firebreather” (CAR); “Frontline” (PBS); “Futurama” (CMY); “General Hospital” (ABC); “Good Luck Charlie” (DIS); “Haven” (SYF); “History Detectives” (PBS); “Home Alone” (ENC); “Into The Universe” (DSC); “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” (CMY); “Jurassic Park CSI” (NGO); “LA Ink” (TLC); “Law & Order: UK” (BBC); “Masterpiece Mystery” (PBS); “Necessary Roughness” (USA); “Nova” (PBS); “Phineas & Ferb” (DIS); “POV” (PBS); “Pretty Little Liars” (FAM); “Ray” (BET); “Rizzoli & Isles” (TNT); “Royal Pains” (USA); “Secret Life [o/t] American Teenager” (FAM); “Sophie’s Choice” (FLX); “Suits” (USA); “The Big C” (SHO); “The Closer” (TNT); “The Graham Norton Show” (BBC); “The Looney Tunes Show” (CAR); “The Lying Game” (FAM); “The Simpsons” (FOX); “Thundercats” (CAR); “True Blood” (HBO); “Voltron Force” (CAR); “Warehouse 13" (SYF); and, “Weeds” (SHO).

IN THE NEWS: Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton coming to [ABC’s] “The Middle” (21 September). With ‘Stefan’ missing and ‘Jeremy’ seeing the dead, a birthday celebration may be unlikely for ‘Elena’ ([CW’s] “The Vampire Diaries” 15 September). Paget Brewster returning to [CBS’] “Criminal Minds” (21 September)!! [NBC’s] “Law & Order: SVU” has a new team of detectives and a new executive producer (21 September). Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete let-go from [CBS’] “The Talk”, ‘guest-host’ replacements may be used to fill their spots until final replacements are determined. Additionally, Ms. Osbourne “will return with a reduced schedule”, meaning she’ll be featured in half as many shows.

EXCLUSIVES By William Keck: [CBS’] “NCIS” will hit the big 200 in 2012; however, though many past faces will be seen – Lauren Holly is “not likely” to return! [CBS’] “Hawaii Five-O” bringing us “ghost stories [...] spooky cemeteries [and] ancient human sacrifices” for Halloween! [AMC’s] “Mad Men” will replace Jared Gilmore (‘Bobby’) who will now be co-starring in [ABC’s] “Once Upon A Time”.

ROUSH REVIEW by Matt Roush: Would like to forget those “few weeks” wherein “Eric Northman pillow-talked [with Sookie]” {– I thought it was creepy, icky. He was much more appealing as a menace.} But, [FX’s] “Rescue Me” and [TNT’s] “The Closer”, along with [AMC’s] “Breaking Bad” are worth remembering! “Falling Skies” on TNT scored where {the NBC original and ABC resurrected} “V” failed. And, ABC-Family’s {FAM’s} “Switched At Birth” was among “[the] best and warmest [and even] compelling” programs of the summer television season.

DINO MIGHT by Megan Lehmann: ^FOX, Going Prehistoric With “Terra Nova”, an ambitious CGI-filled adventure from Steven Spielberg. [...] There’s an earsplitting boom and Stephen Lang [hit] the deck hard as the windows implode. [...] “That’s nothing,” said the buff 59-year-old actor, removing his earplugs and brushing sawdust from his hair. “You wouldn’t believe the stuff that happens around here.” [...] We’re deep in the Australian bush on the set of FOX’s new adventure series, “Terra Nova”. In the scene [being filmed] today, a meteor has just exploded in the atmosphere above the prehistoric colony presided over by ‘Commander Nathaniel Taylor’ (played by Lang). [The exploded meteor has knocked out power to the colony, creating] yet another obstacle for the [future] pilgrims grappling with the past.^

HELLO, ANGELS! by Damien Holbrook: ^Charlie’s girls are back! ABC’s new show, executive produced by Miles Millar and Al Gough, is filming in Miami (FL). Minka Kelly is ‘Eve’, an ex-convict. Annie Ilonzeh is ‘Kate’, a former police officer. Rachael Taylor is ‘Abby’, a disgraced socialite. Ramon Rodriguez will be featured as ‘Bosley’. Robert Wagner was originally hired as ‘Charlie’ but recently backed-out of the role. The show is set to premiere [albeit with a “temporary” ‘Charlie’] 22 September.

FAMILY PREVIEW by Megan Walsh-Boyle: “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” returning [on Cartoon Network] 16 September, featuring “some of the most ambitious battle sequences [ever staged]” – Katee Sackhoff is among those guest-starring this season! Debby Ryan will star in “Jessie”, “a Texas girl who [moved] to New York City to follow her dream [but became] a nanny to four kids.” (Disney Channel, 30 September). Don’t Miss – “Sesame Street” (PBS, 26 September); “Handy Manny” (DIS, 03 October); “Arthur” (PBS, 10 October); “The Secret Circle” ([CWB], 15 September); and, “Terra Nova” (FOX, 26 September).

DAYTIME [DRAMAS] by Michael Logan: Carol Burnett returning to [ABC’s] “All My Children”, 06 September – her fifth appearance as ‘Verla Grubbs’! Meredith Vieira is no longer part of “The Today Show” but she’s continuing her duties with “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”, returning 26 September.

FAREWELL TO PINE VALLEY? by Michael Logan: ^As “All My Children” is ending it’s run on ABC, Susan Lucci is looking back on her reign as the [greatest star of daytime drama]. [...] Once upon a time {way back in 1970} the execs at “All My Children” were so uncertain about Susan Lucci’s ability to portray Erica Kane, she spent her first few weeks on probation. Would this inexperienced young actress with the ethnic look an big hair be able to compete with the blonde, blue-eyed heroines so popular [at the time]? Would the audience embrace ‘Erica’, a snobby, spoiled, self-adoring teenager with daddy issues [...]?^

HIGHLIGHTING ‘ERICA KANE’ by Michael Logan: ^1970s – Teenaged Erica wed Jeff (Charles Frank) Martin and had the first “legal” abortion on television. 1980s – Menaced by a grizzly, Erica’s shout frightened the beast away. 1990s – Introducing Sarah Michelle Gellar as Erica’s daughter, by rape, Kendall - a lolita who went after her mom’s husband! 2000s – Erica freaked when Bianca (Eden Riegel) was revealed to be homosexual! 2010s – Erica is terrorized by a look-alike and wooed by a Hollywood mogul.^

By Frank Jaymes
from TV Guide Magazine
29 August 2011

08 August 2011

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes

A terrific rise for the ‘cousins’ of man and a dreadful fall for the species of man.

Driven to cure the illness which often plague the human brain, [Dr.] Will Rodman (James Franco) has developed a pharmaceutical catalyst allowing cerebral pathways to repair and regrow themselves. Alas, [Dr.] Rodman has a personal agenda suppressing rational procedure. A favorable, if improper, human trial is soon followed by a simian trial – with tragic result.

Born from the tragedy, a miracle in the form of a newborn chimpanzee. An orphaned animal, now in the care of [Dr.] Rodman, is much more than a simple ape. This ape can learn, has learned, perhaps better than any human being. But, even this young ape, named Caesar, cannot overcome the man’s innate tendency to be stupid and afraid. Persecuted and imprisoned, Caesar has planned and prepared for the liberation of his species.

The revolution of ape-kind will begin with death but it is not ape-kind who will be responsible for the downfall of human-kind... that blame shall be upon man!

Brilliantly directed and amazingly performed, this film is decently written with [an almost] familiar plot and a [not entirely unexpected] outcome. {Watch the newspaper headlines to determine the association between this ‘Rise’ and [Tim Burton’s] ‘Planet’.} {Fans will be delighted with the homages to the classic ‘Apes’ film series.}

B / PG2

Starring: James Franco; Andy Serkis; John Lithgow; and, Freida Pinto.
Featuring: David Oyelowo; Tom Felton; Karin Konoval; and, David Hewlett.
With: Brian Cox; Richard Ridings; Chris Gordon; and, Jay Caputo.
Plus: Terry Notary; Devyn Dalton; Tyler Labine; and, Jamie Harris.
Writers: Amanda Silver; and, Rick Jaffa.
Director: Rupert Wyatt [w/ Daniel Barrett; and, {a host of effects masters}].

By Frank Jaymes
05 August 2011

26 July 2011

Captain America

When America needed soldiers he was not a man they wanted. But, when they needed a hero, he was the only man for the job!

Steve Rogers, a kid from Brooklyn, small and weak of body, with courage and idealism defying expectation. He dared what few men would dare. A miracle of science gave form to that which lay within him – a soldier, a leader, an avenger – a hero!

{There’s a reason Captain America has been published monthly since 1941 – he’s the man few of us will ever be and the hero most of us would to be.}

World War Two, Adolf Hitler’s chief of advanced science, Johann Schmidt, has an agenda of his own. Schmidt has the desire to rule the world and the intellect to fulfill that dream. Herr Schmidt has vowed to dominate the world or destroy it. And, only Captain America has the power to stop him.

Brilliantly written and directed, with superb performances throughout, this film is exciting and energetic. Set with circa 1904s costumes and features, plus the fantastic advanced machines which stimulate adventure seeking audiences, this is the kind of film from which legends can be born!

{Graphic novel readers will appreciate the inclusion of nearly every creative tenure of this icon for liberty and freedom created by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby.}

A / PG2

Starring: Chris Evans; Hugo Weaving; Tommy Lee Jones; and, Hayley Atwell
Featuring: Sebastian Stan; Toby Jones; Dominic Cooper; and, Neal McDonough
With: Derek Luke; Kenneth Choi; JJ Field; and, Bruno Ricci
Plus: Stanley Tucci and Samuel L. Jackson
Writers: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
Director: Joe Johnston

By Frank Jaymes

13 January 2011

Black Swan

   A thrilling challenge to maintain your sanity.

  Nina’s life has always been a perfect movement, flawless technique with graceful motion. After years, dedicated to the craft, dancing in the company core, she is given the chance to shine. Challenges mount: the scorn of a retired star; remorse for her role in that retirement; newfound desire for a new member of the company core; the malignity of that desired member; the spite of a particular core ballerina; affection and faith from the company director; and, her mother’s peculiar concern; plus, her own lingering doubt. Can she transform her passion for the science of ballet into passion for the art of dance and the tragedy of “Swan Lake”? Or, will she spin from the stage into tragic failure?

   Very well directed, this film will defy the viewer’s certainty of reality. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis perform brilliantly and are wonderfully choreographed as ‘twin’ ballerina’s equally attracted and opposed, to the ‘Swan Queen’ and to each other.
B / R
11 December 2010 (reposted)
By Frank Jaymes
Starring: Natalie Portman; Mila Kunis; and, Vincent Cassel
Featuring: Barbara Hershey; and, Ksenia Solo
With: Winona Ryder; and, Benjamin Millepied
Writers: Andres Heinz; John McLaughlin; and, Mark Heyman
{plus (original composer) - Pyotr Tchaikovsky}
Director: Darren Aronofsky
{plus choreographer - Benjamin Millepied}