We Talk TV

It's Thursday, so that means NBC will no doubt rule the air waves tonight with Friends, Scrubs, Will & Grace, Coupling, and ER.

I don't watch ER, and I barely watch the others, except for Scrubs, it's a brilliantly funny show. Friends has all but lost it's appeal, as has Will & Grace, but Coupling is shaping out to be somewhat decent, though I hear it may be on the chopping block. Too bad.

It seems that television show now are barely give a chance to catch on with an audience before they are yanked off the air abruptly. Of course, I could be wrong, and that may have always been the norm.

Another show to watch is Smallville, especially for the comic book crowd. They've turned the story of Superman on its ear, making it more a tale of destiny than one of happenstance. While there first season came off a little repetitive, the second season began the dive into the mythos, and the third (and current) season continues that trend.

I also got a chance to watch the 8 Simple Rules episode dealing with John Ritters death this week. Very touching tribute to a man taken before his time. The show will go on, with the blessings of Ritters family. Here's hoping something positively wonderful comes from it.

The only other show I've been watching comes in the form of DVD, and that's Transformers: Beast Wars. This one is recommended only for hardcore fans. The CGI animation gives the show a very dated feel, and the writing is very stiff.

Ah, some promised movie reviews.

Maybe I should call them mini reviews.

8 Crazy Nights:
Adam Sandlers foray into the realm of animation was hardly a success, but it doesn't exactly bomb. It's too vulgar for most younger kids, but any 12-14 year old with a juvenile sense of humor will love it, and some parents may appreciate the message. Call it a Jewish Scrooge if you will, pointing out that just because life deals you a bad hand doesn't mean you have to become bitter. Not great, but not horrible either.

Equilibrium:
This...this is a masterpiece. An action movie with a comprehensible and in depth plot, and done on a budget as well. A true rarity in Hollywood. Granted it takes two existing ideas and melds them together, but in this day and age, what isn't a recycled idea? Best described as Farenheit 451 meets The Matrix, this is the story of a future society where individual thoughts and feelings have been abandoned to bring about peace. Art and literature are burned on site, and anyone caught harboring such things, killed immediately. When John Preston executes his partner for breaking the rules he himself begins to question the society he lives in. He reluctantly joins the underground in an attempt to overthrow the man known as "Father" and to bring individuality back to the world. Combining the best elements from some of the best science fiction stories ever (1984, The Matrix, Logan's Run, etc.), Kurt Wimmer yields astounding results. This one is highly recommended.