I watch The Daily Show every night before going to bed. When the writers strike began, I was crushed. How would I get my nightly news? By watching a serious, non-satirical news program? I don't think so. So for the months of November and December, I knew nothing of the world around me. But in mid-January, The Daily Show began airing again. And much like other nighttime comedy shows that also returned to air, it was without the participation of writers. Jon Stewart had to perform script-less. And he nailed it. Sure, he occasionally filled empty seconds by drawing out a joke well past the point of being funny, but overall it seemed to be of the same pre-strike quality.
And now that the strike has ended and the writers have returned...it's not as good. That's right, with a full writing staff back at work, The Daily Show is less entertaining than when it was working without a safety net. I still watch it every night, but the jokes have gotten lamer, the delivery is stiff, and the whole thing feels like no one is trying. Has the strike drained the writers of their wit? Has picketing during the winter frozen their talent? Are the rest of my favorite shows going to return to the air with half-assed scripts? I'm worried that television's creative spirit has been broken.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Day of the Dead
Remember back in 2004, when the remake of Dawn of the Dead was released? Horror fans, especially myself, were terrified that a movie we loved was getting remade and thus ruined forever. As it turns out, the remake wasn't too bad. The film had been given to a good director who knew how to pick up the slack visually when the movie's story began to sag (around minute 4). The result was not a classic, but was better than anyone had anticipated.
Now, 4 years later, the remake of Day of the Dead is being released. And I am here to say that this movie is exactly what we had all feared in 2004.
First, let me clarify something. Day of the Dead (2008) is not a sequel 2004's Dawn of the Dead (Ving Rhames does show up again, but as a different character). It is simply a remake of Romero's original Day of the Dead. Got that? Because I don't ever want anyone thinking this has anything to do with any of the prior films. This is a cheap, cash-in remake with absolutely no effort put forth.
Nothing connects this film with the original Day except that the main characters are soldiers. In fact, more than half of the movie takes place on a fully-manned military base, above ground. Ving Rhames' role is nothing more than an extended cameo as the leads' superior officer. And who are the leads? None other than the versatile method actors Nick Cannon and Mena Suvari. Hang on, let me type something again, for emphasis: NICK CANNON. Trust me, having seen the film, the casting makes just as little sense now as it did when I first learned about it.
And the plot? Something goes wrong with something, zombies are unleashed, and people run from the zombies. Same plot as every other zombie movie. But with Nick Cannon.
I see no reason why this isn't called House of the Dead 3. It's pointless, poorly made, poorly acted (Cannon is especially horrendous, like the poor man's Chris Tucker[yes, I said it]), and poorly everything-ed. It is so bad that even though it was intended for a theatrical release, and there's currently a writer's strike, it's still going direct-to-DVD.
Now, 4 years later, the remake of Day of the Dead is being released. And I am here to say that this movie is exactly what we had all feared in 2004.
First, let me clarify something. Day of the Dead (2008) is not a sequel 2004's Dawn of the Dead (Ving Rhames does show up again, but as a different character). It is simply a remake of Romero's original Day of the Dead. Got that? Because I don't ever want anyone thinking this has anything to do with any of the prior films. This is a cheap, cash-in remake with absolutely no effort put forth.
Nothing connects this film with the original Day except that the main characters are soldiers. In fact, more than half of the movie takes place on a fully-manned military base, above ground. Ving Rhames' role is nothing more than an extended cameo as the leads' superior officer. And who are the leads? None other than the versatile method actors Nick Cannon and Mena Suvari. Hang on, let me type something again, for emphasis: NICK CANNON. Trust me, having seen the film, the casting makes just as little sense now as it did when I first learned about it.
And the plot? Something goes wrong with something, zombies are unleashed, and people run from the zombies. Same plot as every other zombie movie. But with Nick Cannon.
I see no reason why this isn't called House of the Dead 3. It's pointless, poorly made, poorly acted (Cannon is especially horrendous, like the poor man's Chris Tucker[yes, I said it]), and poorly everything-ed. It is so bad that even though it was intended for a theatrical release, and there's currently a writer's strike, it's still going direct-to-DVD.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Top 5 Amendment
I just finished watching another 2007 film, and feel as though I should amend my Top 5 (which was really Top 6) list from last year. My new list is as folllows:
7. Wristcutters: A Love Story
6. Juno
5. Dedication
4. Rocket Science
3. Gone Baby Gone
2. Zodiac
1. No Country For Old Men
There's nothing blazingly original about the story in Dedication, but all the actors play it so well that it feels new anyway. It's truly sad that Mandy Moore's best films are always the overlooked ones. She could be an A-list lead, but always winds up in crap. Billy Crudup is also still waiting for the mainstream attention that his talant so richly deserves. And while Tom Wilkenson was fantastic in Michael Clayton, his Oscar nomination should have come from this movie, instead.
7. Wristcutters: A Love Story
6. Juno
5. Dedication
4. Rocket Science
3. Gone Baby Gone
2. Zodiac
1. No Country For Old Men
There's nothing blazingly original about the story in Dedication, but all the actors play it so well that it feels new anyway. It's truly sad that Mandy Moore's best films are always the overlooked ones. She could be an A-list lead, but always winds up in crap. Billy Crudup is also still waiting for the mainstream attention that his talant so richly deserves. And while Tom Wilkenson was fantastic in Michael Clayton, his Oscar nomination should have come from this movie, instead.
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