Bright and early tomorrow morning, I will be boarding a bus headed to Chicago, along with my fellow CreComm students. I'm really looking forward to the trip. However, I will not be bringing my lap top with me, and my access to a computer will likely be limited. This means that for at least 6 days, I will be unable to update my blog. I will try to get an entry in as soon as possible after I return.
I've never been to Chicago, nor have I ever gone on a trip without my family, so this will be a trip full of firsts for me!
And here is the final scene from my favourite set-in-Chicago television show: ER:
ER was a great show. I didn't start watching it regularly until about three years before it ended, but that didn't matter. I really got into it. I've been watching the early seasons on DVD, but I'm pretty bad at watching TV on DVD, so I'm near the end of season four right now, and have been for about a year now. I have season five here at home, but I don't see myself getting to it until next summer, because of my IPP. I enjoyed the later seasons, but they're nothing compared to the early episodes.
On the last day we're there, I will be taking in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back. I've never seen it in theatres, so it will be interesting to watch on the big screen. Plus, it has been a few years since I've seen it in its entirety. Sure, I've caught bits and pieces on TV, but it's been awhile since I've sat down and watched the whole thing.
I'll see you all when I get back!
Showing posts with label Television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Television. Show all posts
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Olympic Sports (and the Oscars)
Sports fans, I just want to say this: I don't know how you do it.
I am not a sports fan. In fact, the Winter Olympics are the only sporting event I watch. And even then, I tend to stick to the boblsleigh, luge, and the skiing. But I got sucked into the plight of the men's hockey team, and watched them play Russia. That was an exciting enough game for me. That was nothing compared to today's gold medal game against Team USA. From the start, I had butterflies in my stomach. Then when Team USA scored that goal with only seconds left...I started to get real anxious. Heart in throat, etc. Luckily Sidney Crosby (who, to me, seems almost legendary) got us the game winner in overtime, and we brought gold home...which is just the way it should be.
I realized that I just can't be a sports fan. It gives me too much anxiety. Hockey is the one team sport I can stand to watch, and while I enjoyed myself, I'm kind of happy that it will be four years before I have to deal with that gut feeling! I'll stick to film and television, where there is not as much anxiety involved.
Due in part to the Olympics, I haven't watched many movies lately. I realized that the Oscars are a week from now, and I have yet to see most of the nominees! My goal is to get to The Hurt Locker before Sunday. The Oscars are more my scene. Yes, there is still the anxiety involved (will James Cameron take Best Director? Who will get Best Picture?), but I generally know when the award will be given, and know when the show will end. It just feels like a different type of anxiety and excitement. Plus, I know the names of most people in the room at the Oscars, whereas with sports, I'm lucky if I know the names of two of the players.
I always tell people that the Oscars are my Super bowl. I make my predictions, then on the night of the show, I sit down with a bunch of snacks, and yell at my TV all night. Last year was one of the best shows for me. I'd seen almost all of the nominees, so I didn't feel lost or out of the loop, and I got most of my predictions right (or was pleasantly surprised when I wasn't right)! Hugh Jackman did a great job hosting, and it was generally a fun, and often touching ceremony. This year, I am not as excited because I do feel a little out of the loop. I have not seen most of the nominees, because I've been so busy with school. That being said, a few days ago the excitement started to build up. I will just have to get online and do some research to decide who I think will win. Right now, I figure James Cameron is a lock on Best Director, and probably Best Picture as well...as for the hosts, I am excited to see how Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin do. It has been awhile since they did it with two hosts, so the change in dynamic will be interesting. I know the last time Martin hosted, it was just after the Iraq War began, so the ceremony was more somber, and he didn't really get a chance to "spread his wings" so to speak. This year, he will likely get that chance, which means more opportunities for great comedy!
Plus, every year around this time I start to fantasize about winning an Oscar. I'd like to write the next great film, and get myself nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Then I'd be able to walk the red carpet, and meet all my favourite actors and actresses, and make the standard hurried, panicked speech when I win. Then I'd proceed to cry my make-up off backstage as a result of being so overwhelmed and happy. This past week I've been fantasizing about taking up bobsledding and winning a gold medal for Canada, but now that the Olympics are all but over, I'm back to dreaming about Oscar glory.
One week away! Who else will be watching the Oscars?
I am not a sports fan. In fact, the Winter Olympics are the only sporting event I watch. And even then, I tend to stick to the boblsleigh, luge, and the skiing. But I got sucked into the plight of the men's hockey team, and watched them play Russia. That was an exciting enough game for me. That was nothing compared to today's gold medal game against Team USA. From the start, I had butterflies in my stomach. Then when Team USA scored that goal with only seconds left...I started to get real anxious. Heart in throat, etc. Luckily Sidney Crosby (who, to me, seems almost legendary) got us the game winner in overtime, and we brought gold home...which is just the way it should be.
I realized that I just can't be a sports fan. It gives me too much anxiety. Hockey is the one team sport I can stand to watch, and while I enjoyed myself, I'm kind of happy that it will be four years before I have to deal with that gut feeling! I'll stick to film and television, where there is not as much anxiety involved.
Due in part to the Olympics, I haven't watched many movies lately. I realized that the Oscars are a week from now, and I have yet to see most of the nominees! My goal is to get to The Hurt Locker before Sunday. The Oscars are more my scene. Yes, there is still the anxiety involved (will James Cameron take Best Director? Who will get Best Picture?), but I generally know when the award will be given, and know when the show will end. It just feels like a different type of anxiety and excitement. Plus, I know the names of most people in the room at the Oscars, whereas with sports, I'm lucky if I know the names of two of the players.
I always tell people that the Oscars are my Super bowl. I make my predictions, then on the night of the show, I sit down with a bunch of snacks, and yell at my TV all night. Last year was one of the best shows for me. I'd seen almost all of the nominees, so I didn't feel lost or out of the loop, and I got most of my predictions right (or was pleasantly surprised when I wasn't right)! Hugh Jackman did a great job hosting, and it was generally a fun, and often touching ceremony. This year, I am not as excited because I do feel a little out of the loop. I have not seen most of the nominees, because I've been so busy with school. That being said, a few days ago the excitement started to build up. I will just have to get online and do some research to decide who I think will win. Right now, I figure James Cameron is a lock on Best Director, and probably Best Picture as well...as for the hosts, I am excited to see how Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin do. It has been awhile since they did it with two hosts, so the change in dynamic will be interesting. I know the last time Martin hosted, it was just after the Iraq War began, so the ceremony was more somber, and he didn't really get a chance to "spread his wings" so to speak. This year, he will likely get that chance, which means more opportunities for great comedy!
Plus, every year around this time I start to fantasize about winning an Oscar. I'd like to write the next great film, and get myself nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Then I'd be able to walk the red carpet, and meet all my favourite actors and actresses, and make the standard hurried, panicked speech when I win. Then I'd proceed to cry my make-up off backstage as a result of being so overwhelmed and happy. This past week I've been fantasizing about taking up bobsledding and winning a gold medal for Canada, but now that the Olympics are all but over, I'm back to dreaming about Oscar glory.
One week away! Who else will be watching the Oscars?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
This Week on...Lost
As always, don't read this entry if you have not yet seen the episode and don't want to be spoiled!
It was an interesting episode this week. I enjoyed "crazy Claire", and liked the bit of lying Jin did to save his own hide and to save Kate's. It has left me wondering how one comes down with this "sickness", and what exactly does it do. Does it affect everyone the same way? There seems to be some level of paranoia involved. On the same note, just who or what is Christian Shephard? Claire is friends with the Man in Black, and is also hanging out with her Dad, but my impression was that she was hanging out with the two of them at the same time. I thought that Christian was simply the Man in Black, and that he took over his body...but that may not be the case. It will be interesting to find out more about that.
The flash sideways was pretty neat as well. Jack has a son! I assumed that his mother was Sarah, Jack's ex-wife, but maybe that's not the case! It hasn't been revealed yet. Showing Jack's scar was a way of showing the audience that the two universes seem to be starting to collide or merge in some way. So there is significance to these flashes...we just don't know exactly what yet. This flash sideways made Jack's story come full circle in a way. Jack feared failure because he feared his Dad. David was the same way. But their story ended happier because Dad and son had a heart to heart talk, which brought them closer. Very touching moment.
The bits at the lighthouse were the best moments of the episode. First of all, that lighthouse looked fantastic. I want the Lost creators to build a replica in it in my backyard. It could be like my creepy playhouse. On a more serious note, it revealed something important: Jacob used the lighthouse to watch the candidates. I think Jack was brought there to be shown just that. But when Jacob failed to make an appearance, Jack threw a tantrum and destroyed the glass in the lighthouse. It was never revealed who 108 was, and who I assume is the one who is supposed to be brought to the island. Who do I think it is? One of the following:
Desmond: My favourite character. I've been hoping Desmond makes an appearance this season, especially since Ben swore to kill Penny after Charles Widmore killed his daughter. They need to find a way to integrate that plot line into the plot line of the final season, and this may be the way to do it.
Charles Widmore: He was kicked off the island years ago, and if I remember correctly, he was the former leader of the Others before Ben took over. It has never been established who has the island's best interests at heart (and who is less 'evil'), Ben or Charles. I've flip flopped between them. What if he has to come to the island to get rid of the Man in Black?
I just had a thought: what if it is Desmond, but Charles (and therefore, Penny and their child) tags along? Jacob didn't seem too disappointed that the lighthouse was destroyed, so maybe he knows that the person meant to arrive on the island is not good for the island and/or is not coming alone? Maybe Desmond is meant to come along, but is not coming alone? That Charles is coming, and he's bad for the island? Just a thought I had.
I also briefly thought that maybe it would be Walt, but now I kind of doubt it. I have a feeling that Walt's story is mostly done. But at the same time, part of me feels that Aaron and Walt have a larger purpose than we ever thought. Light versus dark, you know? Maybe I brought this up last week, but what if Aaron was a vessel for Jacob, and Walt, a vessel for the Man in Black?
The Man in Black is headed to the Temple now, which means trouble for everyone there. I get the feeling he may not be able to enter, at least not in "smoky form", because the folks at the Temple seemed to put some sort of protection down, if I remember correctly. Is Sawyer still with the Man in Black? If so, does that mean he will join them on the journey to the Temple? Looking forward to next week!
By the way, the Man in Black needs a name. As cool as the Man in Black sounds, I consistently think of The Princess Bride when I write it!
It was an interesting episode this week. I enjoyed "crazy Claire", and liked the bit of lying Jin did to save his own hide and to save Kate's. It has left me wondering how one comes down with this "sickness", and what exactly does it do. Does it affect everyone the same way? There seems to be some level of paranoia involved. On the same note, just who or what is Christian Shephard? Claire is friends with the Man in Black, and is also hanging out with her Dad, but my impression was that she was hanging out with the two of them at the same time. I thought that Christian was simply the Man in Black, and that he took over his body...but that may not be the case. It will be interesting to find out more about that.
The flash sideways was pretty neat as well. Jack has a son! I assumed that his mother was Sarah, Jack's ex-wife, but maybe that's not the case! It hasn't been revealed yet. Showing Jack's scar was a way of showing the audience that the two universes seem to be starting to collide or merge in some way. So there is significance to these flashes...we just don't know exactly what yet. This flash sideways made Jack's story come full circle in a way. Jack feared failure because he feared his Dad. David was the same way. But their story ended happier because Dad and son had a heart to heart talk, which brought them closer. Very touching moment.
The bits at the lighthouse were the best moments of the episode. First of all, that lighthouse looked fantastic. I want the Lost creators to build a replica in it in my backyard. It could be like my creepy playhouse. On a more serious note, it revealed something important: Jacob used the lighthouse to watch the candidates. I think Jack was brought there to be shown just that. But when Jacob failed to make an appearance, Jack threw a tantrum and destroyed the glass in the lighthouse. It was never revealed who 108 was, and who I assume is the one who is supposed to be brought to the island. Who do I think it is? One of the following:
Desmond: My favourite character. I've been hoping Desmond makes an appearance this season, especially since Ben swore to kill Penny after Charles Widmore killed his daughter. They need to find a way to integrate that plot line into the plot line of the final season, and this may be the way to do it.
Charles Widmore: He was kicked off the island years ago, and if I remember correctly, he was the former leader of the Others before Ben took over. It has never been established who has the island's best interests at heart (and who is less 'evil'), Ben or Charles. I've flip flopped between them. What if he has to come to the island to get rid of the Man in Black?
I just had a thought: what if it is Desmond, but Charles (and therefore, Penny and their child) tags along? Jacob didn't seem too disappointed that the lighthouse was destroyed, so maybe he knows that the person meant to arrive on the island is not good for the island and/or is not coming alone? Maybe Desmond is meant to come along, but is not coming alone? That Charles is coming, and he's bad for the island? Just a thought I had.
I also briefly thought that maybe it would be Walt, but now I kind of doubt it. I have a feeling that Walt's story is mostly done. But at the same time, part of me feels that Aaron and Walt have a larger purpose than we ever thought. Light versus dark, you know? Maybe I brought this up last week, but what if Aaron was a vessel for Jacob, and Walt, a vessel for the Man in Black?
The Man in Black is headed to the Temple now, which means trouble for everyone there. I get the feeling he may not be able to enter, at least not in "smoky form", because the folks at the Temple seemed to put some sort of protection down, if I remember correctly. Is Sawyer still with the Man in Black? If so, does that mean he will join them on the journey to the Temple? Looking forward to next week!
By the way, the Man in Black needs a name. As cool as the Man in Black sounds, I consistently think of The Princess Bride when I write it!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Lost Discussion
Note, as always, this entry contains spoilers for last night's episode. If you haven't watched it and intend on watching it, wait on reading this!
Since the beginning, one of the major themes of Lost has been light versus dark. During this season, that theme has shown up in a much more literal way: Jacob versus the mysterious Man in Black, who is currently taking the form of Locke. We learned last night that there are six characters "vying" for the role of protector of the island-Jacob's role before he was killed by Ben. They are:
4. Locke (deceased)
8. Hurley
15. Sawyer
16. Sayid
23. Jack
42. Either Sun or Jin
Notice the numbers? We may have gotten as much explanation of the significance of the numbers as we'll get. I'm hoping to learn more, but am not expecting it.
Sawyer is currently with the Man in Black-in what capacity, we don't yet know. But the blonde boy warned the Man in Black is not to kill any of them. Will Sawyer be talked into murdering the other "possibilities"? That would be an interesting turn of events. Since the beginning, people have theorized that the Losties would end up splitting, and a "war" would be declared between the two groups. There have been times when there has threatened to be a split among them, but they've always managed to get along, despite differences in opinion. Is this going to create the "war" fans always speculated about? Sawyer and the Man in Black versus the rest of the Losties and the Temple people? Maybe. I'm interested in where Sawyer is going as a character. He's developed so much since season one, where he was the lovable, cantankerous jerk. Last season he was a leader, and a family man. But since the bomb went off and he lost Juliet, he's undergone another shift. He's reverted to something closer to what he was in season one, but...darker.
I have a feeling Jack may take on the role of the next Jacob. People have been wanting a Jack/Sawyer showdown for awhile. I think that would be a little cliche though. I don't know who I'm rooting for, but I think it'd be kind of nice if one of the characters that's not as spotlighted got it. Like Hurley. I was originally going to say Sun or Jin-I've always had soft spots for them, but I'd really just like to see them find each other again, and go off into the sunset together. Or maybe it is meant to be Sawyer, and he's going to have to come back to the light side?
I'm glad Kate isn't on that list. She has always really annoyed me. Was she even in the episode last night? I can't remember her making an appearance, which doesn't bother me one bit.
I'm not sure how I feel about the flash-sideways' yet. I always get really confused, and assume that that would have been their lives had the plane not crashed. I was reminded yesterday that what they're showing is in an alternate universe. I guess I am having difficulty getting my head wrapped around it. I liked the one last night because I always thought Helen and Locke made a great couple. Hurley, Ben and Rose made appearances as well, which goes to show that the Losties are still connected, even in this alternate universe. Ben showed up as a schoolteacher! Now imagine him teaching CreComm. Go on, take a moment and do it. I'll wait.
***
Amusing, eh?
Another point of interest was seeing Richard in the jungle. I'm curious to know why he's so scared of the Man in Black. Also curious about Richard's history. I kind of think that he was probably some sort of slave on the Black Rock, escaped and became immortal by bathing in the fountain. Was he involved in Jacob's "rise to power" and the Man in Black's oppression? I am starting to think so. Did we ever get the Richard-centric episode we were promised? I can't quite remember, which means I'll need to revisit last season again.
Since the beginning, one of the major themes of Lost has been light versus dark. During this season, that theme has shown up in a much more literal way: Jacob versus the mysterious Man in Black, who is currently taking the form of Locke. We learned last night that there are six characters "vying" for the role of protector of the island-Jacob's role before he was killed by Ben. They are:
4. Locke (deceased)
8. Hurley
15. Sawyer
16. Sayid
23. Jack
42. Either Sun or Jin
Notice the numbers? We may have gotten as much explanation of the significance of the numbers as we'll get. I'm hoping to learn more, but am not expecting it.
Sawyer is currently with the Man in Black-in what capacity, we don't yet know. But the blonde boy warned the Man in Black is not to kill any of them. Will Sawyer be talked into murdering the other "possibilities"? That would be an interesting turn of events. Since the beginning, people have theorized that the Losties would end up splitting, and a "war" would be declared between the two groups. There have been times when there has threatened to be a split among them, but they've always managed to get along, despite differences in opinion. Is this going to create the "war" fans always speculated about? Sawyer and the Man in Black versus the rest of the Losties and the Temple people? Maybe. I'm interested in where Sawyer is going as a character. He's developed so much since season one, where he was the lovable, cantankerous jerk. Last season he was a leader, and a family man. But since the bomb went off and he lost Juliet, he's undergone another shift. He's reverted to something closer to what he was in season one, but...darker.
I have a feeling Jack may take on the role of the next Jacob. People have been wanting a Jack/Sawyer showdown for awhile. I think that would be a little cliche though. I don't know who I'm rooting for, but I think it'd be kind of nice if one of the characters that's not as spotlighted got it. Like Hurley. I was originally going to say Sun or Jin-I've always had soft spots for them, but I'd really just like to see them find each other again, and go off into the sunset together. Or maybe it is meant to be Sawyer, and he's going to have to come back to the light side?
I'm glad Kate isn't on that list. She has always really annoyed me. Was she even in the episode last night? I can't remember her making an appearance, which doesn't bother me one bit.
I'm not sure how I feel about the flash-sideways' yet. I always get really confused, and assume that that would have been their lives had the plane not crashed. I was reminded yesterday that what they're showing is in an alternate universe. I guess I am having difficulty getting my head wrapped around it. I liked the one last night because I always thought Helen and Locke made a great couple. Hurley, Ben and Rose made appearances as well, which goes to show that the Losties are still connected, even in this alternate universe. Ben showed up as a schoolteacher! Now imagine him teaching CreComm. Go on, take a moment and do it. I'll wait.
***
Amusing, eh?
Another point of interest was seeing Richard in the jungle. I'm curious to know why he's so scared of the Man in Black. Also curious about Richard's history. I kind of think that he was probably some sort of slave on the Black Rock, escaped and became immortal by bathing in the fountain. Was he involved in Jacob's "rise to power" and the Man in Black's oppression? I am starting to think so. Did we ever get the Richard-centric episode we were promised? I can't quite remember, which means I'll need to revisit last season again.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Confessions of a Lost Fan
(Note: There will be spoilers for the sixth season premiere of Lost. If you haven't watched it yet, and don't want to be spoiled, don't read this entry!)
As many of you know, I am a huge Lost fan. I have been since the second episode, which I watched after hearing so many good things about the pilot episode. I was 14 years old, and I'd never encountered a television show that was so complex, and with such intriguing and fascinating characters.
Much has changed in my life in the past six years. But one of the "constants" in my life has been Lost (if you're a fan, you'll see what I did there...). Every night it was on (or the night after, if I was working), I'd sit down, and watch it, and more often than not, I was left confused, but that didn't matter. I knew I'd get the "answers" one day. Slowly, we've been finding out more about the world that has been created.
The final season premiered on Tuesday. It felt very bittersweet for me, because this is the very last one. There are only a handful of episodes in which to reveal the answers we've been desperately looking for. What's with Jacob and the man in black? Is Ben the 'villain' or is Charles Widmore...or are they both 'good' characters with a dark side? What was with Libby being at the mental institution with Hurley, giving the boat to Desmond, and whatever else she did? Will our survivors create the alternate world where the plane never crashed? Why does Richard never age, and just how old is he? These are just a few of the many questions that need to be answered.
I am not expecting everything to be answered, of course. I doubt we'll ever know why Aaron "has" to be raised by Claire...a question that goes as far back as the first season. But it would be nice to know the answers to some of the big questions, especially after so many years of loyal viewing.
What am I going to do after the show ends? I have no idea, really. It has been a rough two years on the television front, since many of the show I watched (ER, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Pushing Daisies) either ended or were cancelled. I don't watch a whole lot of television, and I suppose that is a good thing as a CreComm student, but it would be nice to have a new show to get really invested in. A show like Lost, where the mere thought of missing an episode fills me with anxiety. Before I got into Lost, I was never passionately into a television show. It helps that Lost devotes itself well to discussion. I've spent countless hours online, and in person, throwing around theories, discussing character motivations, and wondering where the show could possibly go next. However, since everything good seems to get cancelled nowadays, I am really careful about what I get invested in.
I figure, we have a good three months of Lost to enjoy before it ends. The episode on Tuesday really left me scratching my head. With so few episodes left, they sure introduced a whole lot of new things to ponder. I trust the writers, and I'm sure they will tie it all together, but I was left wondering at certain parts whether what they were doing was a "good idea". Most notably were the scenes of the "alternate universe". Someone referred to them somewhere as "flash sideways" and I kind of like that. But my big fear is that the world on the island will cease to exist because the bomb did something, and the show will end with the survivors going about their lives as they would have if the plane hadn't crashed. That would upset me, because it would almost render the entire series moot. I don't think that will be what ends up happening, but I have to wonder when I see them all getting off the plane.
We did get an interesting insight into what their lives would be like if the plane hadn't crashed, and I have to say...for many of them, their life on the island was a huge improvement. Some days I think I'd like to live on Lost-island. Running away from the smoke monster (now known to be the man in black), pressing a button every 108 minutes, and good old fashioned time travel seems like it would be an interesting change of pace. Or maybe that's just the heavy work week talking!
I remember sitting down to watch it for the first time, and thinking that it was going to be like "Godzilla, but on an island". I was expecting a horror/thriller type of television show, instead of a character driven science fiction drama. I think we all won when my assumption was proven to be incorrect, because how long could a "Godzilla, but on an island" show last?
As many of you know, I am a huge Lost fan. I have been since the second episode, which I watched after hearing so many good things about the pilot episode. I was 14 years old, and I'd never encountered a television show that was so complex, and with such intriguing and fascinating characters.
Much has changed in my life in the past six years. But one of the "constants" in my life has been Lost (if you're a fan, you'll see what I did there...). Every night it was on (or the night after, if I was working), I'd sit down, and watch it, and more often than not, I was left confused, but that didn't matter. I knew I'd get the "answers" one day. Slowly, we've been finding out more about the world that has been created.
The final season premiered on Tuesday. It felt very bittersweet for me, because this is the very last one. There are only a handful of episodes in which to reveal the answers we've been desperately looking for. What's with Jacob and the man in black? Is Ben the 'villain' or is Charles Widmore...or are they both 'good' characters with a dark side? What was with Libby being at the mental institution with Hurley, giving the boat to Desmond, and whatever else she did? Will our survivors create the alternate world where the plane never crashed? Why does Richard never age, and just how old is he? These are just a few of the many questions that need to be answered.
I am not expecting everything to be answered, of course. I doubt we'll ever know why Aaron "has" to be raised by Claire...a question that goes as far back as the first season. But it would be nice to know the answers to some of the big questions, especially after so many years of loyal viewing.
What am I going to do after the show ends? I have no idea, really. It has been a rough two years on the television front, since many of the show I watched (ER, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Pushing Daisies) either ended or were cancelled. I don't watch a whole lot of television, and I suppose that is a good thing as a CreComm student, but it would be nice to have a new show to get really invested in. A show like Lost, where the mere thought of missing an episode fills me with anxiety. Before I got into Lost, I was never passionately into a television show. It helps that Lost devotes itself well to discussion. I've spent countless hours online, and in person, throwing around theories, discussing character motivations, and wondering where the show could possibly go next. However, since everything good seems to get cancelled nowadays, I am really careful about what I get invested in.
I figure, we have a good three months of Lost to enjoy before it ends. The episode on Tuesday really left me scratching my head. With so few episodes left, they sure introduced a whole lot of new things to ponder. I trust the writers, and I'm sure they will tie it all together, but I was left wondering at certain parts whether what they were doing was a "good idea". Most notably were the scenes of the "alternate universe". Someone referred to them somewhere as "flash sideways" and I kind of like that. But my big fear is that the world on the island will cease to exist because the bomb did something, and the show will end with the survivors going about their lives as they would have if the plane hadn't crashed. That would upset me, because it would almost render the entire series moot. I don't think that will be what ends up happening, but I have to wonder when I see them all getting off the plane.
We did get an interesting insight into what their lives would be like if the plane hadn't crashed, and I have to say...for many of them, their life on the island was a huge improvement. Some days I think I'd like to live on Lost-island. Running away from the smoke monster (now known to be the man in black), pressing a button every 108 minutes, and good old fashioned time travel seems like it would be an interesting change of pace. Or maybe that's just the heavy work week talking!
I remember sitting down to watch it for the first time, and thinking that it was going to be like "Godzilla, but on an island". I was expecting a horror/thriller type of television show, instead of a character driven science fiction drama. I think we all won when my assumption was proven to be incorrect, because how long could a "Godzilla, but on an island" show last?
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Simpsons
Tonight is the 20th anniversary episode of The Simpsons, so I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate a blog entry to it. I have not watched any of the "new" episodes for several years now, but I may tune in tonight to reminisce a bit.
The Simpsons was THE show of my childhood. Every Sunday, my brother, Steven, my Dad and I would gather around the TV to watch it. It didn't matter that I didn't get a lot of the humour back then, I laughed at all the silly stuff Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie did, and marvelled at the fact that, no matter what happened, they were and would always be, a happy family. When my Dad would laugh at the jokes that went over our heads, I'd look at my Dad with a blank stare and he'd try to explain just what was so funny, but it was years until I really "got it". I've seen every episode up until about season 14. Seasons 1-8 are the best, but 9 and 10 are very good as well. After seasons 14, I stopped watching regularly because it had just become a shadow of its former glory, in my opinion.
That hasn't stopped me from watching the "classic" episodes. I have several of the earlier seasons on DVD, and they get near constant viewing from me. I get all of the "adult" jokes now (the day I started to get them as a teenager was the day I felt "grown up"), and take a lot of joy in rediscovering the sometimes very subtle humour of the show. Just over the winter break, I was watching "Mr. Plow" from the 4th season, which I hadn't seen in years. In this episode, Homer buys some very cheap late night advertising to promote his new snow plow business. The commercial was so obviously terrible, (look at the production values!) but that's why it's so funny. It's a send up on awful late night advertising and the people who think they can write and produce their own commercials without any prior experience in doing so. Of course the commercial brings Homer wild success...for the time being.
Another great advertising parody is for the Canyonero, in the season 9 episode, "The Last Temptation of Krust." Here's the audio of the commercial, though it really must be seen with the picture as well, if possible. There's another great song from the season 9 episode "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpsons". It's obviously a parody of Robert Downey Jr's substance abuse problems, but as a kid I didn't know that. Again, it wasn't until I revisited it about two years ago that I figured it out.
Since I've seen the early ones so many times, I have a full arsenal of lines that I pull out fairly often. Sometimes I'm given the same blank stares I used to give my Dad, but occasionally someone will catch what I'm doing and (hopefully) laugh. Just the other day I used "they have the internet on computers now" in a conversation. I was doing a bit of googling and found a list of lines that can be put into every day use produced by A.V. Club. In the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit to using every single one of them at least once in conversation, and some of them are used very regularly.
It may not be as good as it once was, but 20 years is a serious achievement. Congratulations to the creators of The Simpsons for creating a show that's still loved and talked about after all this time.
The Simpsons was THE show of my childhood. Every Sunday, my brother, Steven, my Dad and I would gather around the TV to watch it. It didn't matter that I didn't get a lot of the humour back then, I laughed at all the silly stuff Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie did, and marvelled at the fact that, no matter what happened, they were and would always be, a happy family. When my Dad would laugh at the jokes that went over our heads, I'd look at my Dad with a blank stare and he'd try to explain just what was so funny, but it was years until I really "got it". I've seen every episode up until about season 14. Seasons 1-8 are the best, but 9 and 10 are very good as well. After seasons 14, I stopped watching regularly because it had just become a shadow of its former glory, in my opinion.
That hasn't stopped me from watching the "classic" episodes. I have several of the earlier seasons on DVD, and they get near constant viewing from me. I get all of the "adult" jokes now (the day I started to get them as a teenager was the day I felt "grown up"), and take a lot of joy in rediscovering the sometimes very subtle humour of the show. Just over the winter break, I was watching "Mr. Plow" from the 4th season, which I hadn't seen in years. In this episode, Homer buys some very cheap late night advertising to promote his new snow plow business. The commercial was so obviously terrible, (look at the production values!) but that's why it's so funny. It's a send up on awful late night advertising and the people who think they can write and produce their own commercials without any prior experience in doing so. Of course the commercial brings Homer wild success...for the time being.
Another great advertising parody is for the Canyonero, in the season 9 episode, "The Last Temptation of Krust." Here's the audio of the commercial, though it really must be seen with the picture as well, if possible. There's another great song from the season 9 episode "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpsons". It's obviously a parody of Robert Downey Jr's substance abuse problems, but as a kid I didn't know that. Again, it wasn't until I revisited it about two years ago that I figured it out.
Since I've seen the early ones so many times, I have a full arsenal of lines that I pull out fairly often. Sometimes I'm given the same blank stares I used to give my Dad, but occasionally someone will catch what I'm doing and (hopefully) laugh. Just the other day I used "they have the internet on computers now" in a conversation. I was doing a bit of googling and found a list of lines that can be put into every day use produced by A.V. Club. In the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit to using every single one of them at least once in conversation, and some of them are used very regularly.
It may not be as good as it once was, but 20 years is a serious achievement. Congratulations to the creators of The Simpsons for creating a show that's still loved and talked about after all this time.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Survivor (another other reality television, plus some LOST)
I feel compelled to write a blog post about my favourite guilty pleasure tv show, Survivor. Since I last posted, the big villain, Russell H has turned into the big hero. He's the main member of the underdog folk in the newly merged Aiga tribe, and while he's still not a "nice" guy, he's just an excellent player. I'm rooting for him, maybe not to win, but it will be a sad day when he leaves. My Mom has made a great point when she says she doesn't want him to win because in the first episode he admitted to being a multimillionaire. She's right. I'd rather one of his allies win for that very reason.
I got to thinking today about how Russell H has become the hero of the season. It's all about the editing. The producers realized they got a winner when they started seeing all the footage of Russell H. So in the early days, most of the time was spent on his tribe, Foa Foa. Therefore, the viewers got to know that tribe better than the Galu tribe. There were actually some members of Galu that did not get any significant interview time until the merge, so I did not actually know their names. How can you root for someone when you don't know anything about how they're playing the game? I think the audience has almost been forced into rooting for the Foa Foa members, including their big hero: Russell H. It's amazing how the "villain" has been shifted into hero status, and the practically unknown Galu folk are kind of the villains. At least, this is how I'm interpreting the game.
Survivor is awesome in that it is always best to start rooting for the underdogs. As a fan since near the beginning, I've watched all (or almost all) of every season, and I know that when you are in an underdog position, you start to scramble. And when the majority alliance gets cocky, that's when the trouble starts. Audiences love an underdog, so most of the time that is who I'm rooting for. My favourite season ever was the Cook Islands season, with Yul, Ozzy, Becky and Sundra. They became a tribe of four, and during the merge, they managed to pick off the majority tribe by continually winning immunity before the merge, and making agreements with the majority tribe members. When you're part of the underdogs, you stick together, and when you find cracks in the majority alliance...you take advantage of them. It was brilliant game play, and Yul, the eventual winner, is among my favourite players ever (along with Ozzy, who got second place that season).
Yes, Survivor is serious business to me. I like it, and The Amazing Race because they don't feel as tacky as some of the reality shows that have been produced (The Swan on FOX comes to mind as an example of a tacky show). Essentially they're games of skill. Survivor has a huge networking and social aspect, which I really respect. I also acknowledge the difficulty of both shows. I'd never go on Survivor (and can't, because I'm Canadian) because I'm out of shape first of all. Secondly, I'm very shy and not particularly good at scrambling to make friends fast. Thirdly, I have a low tolerance for stupid things people pull, and am painfully honest as a result, which can come across poorly if people don't know me well. Lastly, I don't deal with hunger well. I get dizzy and nauseated if I go too long without eating, and I tend to get cranky as well.
However, if I were able to, I'd love to go on The Amazing Race. I wish they took Canadians, because I would find a partner and apply. Not that I would be a particularly good team member. I don't have my full license so I couldn't be the driver, and I don't know left from right so I wouldn't be a particularly good navigator. Couple that with being out of shape, always in need of a snack close by, and my need for lots of sleep...and I'd be the most incompetent team mate ever.
I think I'll stick to the couch with my bowl of ice cream and my glass of water, and shout at the tv when I think someone is doing something stupid.
***
Oh, and in non-reality television news, LOST starts on Tuesday, February 2nd! I can't wait! I've been trying not to read any spoilers about it, because I want to go in surprised for as much of it as possible. It's very much like the last Harry Potter book for me. I spoiled myself for all the other books by reading the end before I got to the end...but I refused to do that with the last one, to the point where I read it in one shot. With the final season, I want to experience as much of it "fresh" as possible, so I'm forcing myself to avoid spoiler sites, and I may not even watch episode previews. That way I can get the full emotional impact of each episode.
I got to thinking today about how Russell H has become the hero of the season. It's all about the editing. The producers realized they got a winner when they started seeing all the footage of Russell H. So in the early days, most of the time was spent on his tribe, Foa Foa. Therefore, the viewers got to know that tribe better than the Galu tribe. There were actually some members of Galu that did not get any significant interview time until the merge, so I did not actually know their names. How can you root for someone when you don't know anything about how they're playing the game? I think the audience has almost been forced into rooting for the Foa Foa members, including their big hero: Russell H. It's amazing how the "villain" has been shifted into hero status, and the practically unknown Galu folk are kind of the villains. At least, this is how I'm interpreting the game.
Survivor is awesome in that it is always best to start rooting for the underdogs. As a fan since near the beginning, I've watched all (or almost all) of every season, and I know that when you are in an underdog position, you start to scramble. And when the majority alliance gets cocky, that's when the trouble starts. Audiences love an underdog, so most of the time that is who I'm rooting for. My favourite season ever was the Cook Islands season, with Yul, Ozzy, Becky and Sundra. They became a tribe of four, and during the merge, they managed to pick off the majority tribe by continually winning immunity before the merge, and making agreements with the majority tribe members. When you're part of the underdogs, you stick together, and when you find cracks in the majority alliance...you take advantage of them. It was brilliant game play, and Yul, the eventual winner, is among my favourite players ever (along with Ozzy, who got second place that season).
Yes, Survivor is serious business to me. I like it, and The Amazing Race because they don't feel as tacky as some of the reality shows that have been produced (The Swan on FOX comes to mind as an example of a tacky show). Essentially they're games of skill. Survivor has a huge networking and social aspect, which I really respect. I also acknowledge the difficulty of both shows. I'd never go on Survivor (and can't, because I'm Canadian) because I'm out of shape first of all. Secondly, I'm very shy and not particularly good at scrambling to make friends fast. Thirdly, I have a low tolerance for stupid things people pull, and am painfully honest as a result, which can come across poorly if people don't know me well. Lastly, I don't deal with hunger well. I get dizzy and nauseated if I go too long without eating, and I tend to get cranky as well.
However, if I were able to, I'd love to go on The Amazing Race. I wish they took Canadians, because I would find a partner and apply. Not that I would be a particularly good team member. I don't have my full license so I couldn't be the driver, and I don't know left from right so I wouldn't be a particularly good navigator. Couple that with being out of shape, always in need of a snack close by, and my need for lots of sleep...and I'd be the most incompetent team mate ever.
I think I'll stick to the couch with my bowl of ice cream and my glass of water, and shout at the tv when I think someone is doing something stupid.
***
Oh, and in non-reality television news, LOST starts on Tuesday, February 2nd! I can't wait! I've been trying not to read any spoilers about it, because I want to go in surprised for as much of it as possible. It's very much like the last Harry Potter book for me. I spoiled myself for all the other books by reading the end before I got to the end...but I refused to do that with the last one, to the point where I read it in one shot. With the final season, I want to experience as much of it "fresh" as possible, so I'm forcing myself to avoid spoiler sites, and I may not even watch episode previews. That way I can get the full emotional impact of each episode.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Introductory Post (Welcome to My Little Home on the Internet!)
Hi! And welcome to my blog! My name is Jennifer Hanson, and I am a student at Red River in the Creative Communications (CreComm) program. This blog was an assignment for the program, but instead of seeing it as an assignment, I'm seeing this as a great opportunity to present myself, my ideas, and my passions to the online world. My goal is to establish a readership, and interact with other film and television fans online. That being said, don't be surprised to see posts relating more to school, or subjects other than film and television (I like to branch out!).
I love film and television. I've been a member of various forums dedicated to the subjects since 2003, since I was thirteen years old. Since then, my love has only grown and in my spare time, I dedicate myself to further educating myself on film and television. In this blog, I will most likely be talking about upcoming films, by posting trailers, commentary and links to stories of interest. I will also talk about the television I watch (and possibly the television I will never, ever watch), and again, post stories of interest. There will also be commentary on films I've seen, and trends in film. Essentially, whatever I find interesting, and feel that my readers will enjoy reading about! My entries will vary in length, from on the run links to stories or trailers, to much longer entries. I'll try to offer a good variety.
I'd like to encourage everyone to comment on anything they find interesting, whether they agree or disagree. However, I would like to ask all commenters to please refrain from making derogatory remarks, personal attacks, and using curse words. This is a school blog, therefore a certain level of professionalism is requested. Any comments with the above will simply be deleted. Please feel free to post film recommendations...I promise I will make a pointed effort to watch any recommendations and post my feelings about them. That being said, school will be keeping me busy and this is not a firm guarantee that I will watch every film that is recommended to me.
I love film and television. I've been a member of various forums dedicated to the subjects since 2003, since I was thirteen years old. Since then, my love has only grown and in my spare time, I dedicate myself to further educating myself on film and television. In this blog, I will most likely be talking about upcoming films, by posting trailers, commentary and links to stories of interest. I will also talk about the television I watch (and possibly the television I will never, ever watch), and again, post stories of interest. There will also be commentary on films I've seen, and trends in film. Essentially, whatever I find interesting, and feel that my readers will enjoy reading about! My entries will vary in length, from on the run links to stories or trailers, to much longer entries. I'll try to offer a good variety.
I'd like to encourage everyone to comment on anything they find interesting, whether they agree or disagree. However, I would like to ask all commenters to please refrain from making derogatory remarks, personal attacks, and using curse words. This is a school blog, therefore a certain level of professionalism is requested. Any comments with the above will simply be deleted. Please feel free to post film recommendations...I promise I will make a pointed effort to watch any recommendations and post my feelings about them. That being said, school will be keeping me busy and this is not a firm guarantee that I will watch every film that is recommended to me.
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