Showing posts with label Cult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cult. Show all posts

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens

a kate west reflection


- Spoiler Warnings - Spoiler Warnings - Spoiler Warnings - Spoiler Warnings - Spoiler Warnings -

It's been a long time coming, this new Star Wars. On the one hand, we awaited the release with Christmas morning excitement, but on the other, we were wary since we'd been hurt before (VERY hurt, by Episodes I-III, amiright???) so expectations were both abnormally high and abnormally low. Please note, the essential trilogy (IV-VI), has its flaws (besides the Ewoks) which I won't get into here, and which don't really matter to our childhood memories. Sure, the classic John Williams score helped to elevate the story to a different cinematic level than it might otherwise achieved (blah, blah, blah) but relax, this takes nothing away from the lure of the enduring legend.

The main attraction to this franchise, at least for me, is the pure emotion (full disclosure: my true affiliation is with Star Trek, but I still remember falling in love with the original Star Wars and what it did to my fantasy life). Those ideas of the nobility of the Jedi, the loneliness of a space hero, the passion of a rebellion, awakened a new hope in me too, as it were. So I really wanted to like the new movie.

And I did. I already approved of what J.J. Abrams did with the new Star Trek (at least his first movie anyway: read the review here). He kept the essence of the characters, but kept his own modern uber cool spin on it via the alternate universe. So I trusted him to do the same for Star Wars. He didn't do the alternate universe thing, but did stay true to the characters and respected the history enough to make a fairly seamless continuation.


I  always wanted to see a female Jedi and Rey (Daisy Ridley) does a fine job of discovering a latent power in the nick of time. Finn (John Boyega) is a perfectly likable reformed Stormtrooper and Poe (Oscar Issac) is properly dashing. And of course Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill (they ALL aged, by the way) are a welcome sight, along with Chewy and the droids (plus a cute new one to market to the kiddies). The supporting characters are all fine and Adam Driver is a good villain as Kylo Ren. It's all fine and carefully kept within the coloring lines. Everything is fine. Whew.

(well alright, Han Solo is not so fine and while it wasn't a happy scene, it had to happen)

I understand the people who wanted more and I understand the people who embraced this movie as a refreshingly terrific film. In contrast to the disappointing Jar-Jar movies, this is brighter and more truly epic. Strictly cinematically however, it's not as weighty as we might feel the story merits. But it's an awfully good set-up for the sequels. If J.J. is merely laying groundwork, then it's FINE. It works. It's a quick introduction to new characters and a quick segue to future installments. I can't say this is a revolutionary film, given Abrams' extraordinary caution in keeping a certain expected structure. But it's fine and you can all calm down now. Let it just be a movie, for pete's sake.

I'm looking forward to see what adventures happen next. I know this one was a repeat of Star Wars IV but that's OK. History repeats itself and if Rey is a Jedi descendant (Luke's?) it's fitting she has the same story. We're starting over by starting at the beginning (as in 1977). We are pretending I-III didn't happen and we are having a little fun along the way. What more can you ask? Breathe. Everything is fine.


Oh and boy was that final scene breathtaking or what? Emotionally and visually stunning. Thanks again, J.J.!

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LOST







a kate west reflection
spoiler alert spoiler alert spoiler alert spoiler alert spoiler alert spoiler alert spoiler alert spoiler alert spoiler alert spoiler alert

One of the only television series to provoke a flurry of online speculation on such weighty matters as literature, physics, love and the afterlife, "Lost" will definitely take its place in pop culture history. Granted, it's probably nothing university professors would consider in-depth, but to even allude to the philosophical in a mere t.v. show is something new these days. And fans will still be discussing the controversial finale long after its prime time demise.

Anyway, this post is really a shout-out to the die-hard fans out there, not a description of what the show is about (who can say that, even now?) or even a review. It's just, I haven't pondered a t.v. show this much since, well, ever. Following Jack, Kate, Locke, Sun/Jin, Sawyer, Hurley, Desmond, Charlie/Claire, Michael/Walt and (sigh) Sayid all these years really sunk them into my consciousness somehow, in a way that no other show did. Yes, I wanted to unravel mysteries (more satisfactorily than "X-Files", I have to say) and cliff-hangers kept me tuning in, but really it was about the characters. Those damned likable characters supposedly randomly marooned on a woefully underrated mysterious island. The location was spectacular, the sets first-rate and the musical score devastating. All those factors made this unreality so very real, and always touching at the heart of the matter - being human. And of course the actors themselves portrayed weakness and nobility so easily they made us all feel vulnerable.

So now, weeks later, I am still thinking about death. And life. And it's not as scary as it used to be. If we all end up in a church of our own making, with friends we went through hell with, we are going to be alright. If only. A series finale is in itself about an ending, obviously. And I thought I was good with those. I could move on to the next phase in my life, kind of ... unphased. But lately it's been harder and I get more sentimental as the years go by. Or maybe it's just that the changes are bigger and the moves cover more ground. And fantasy relationships are easier.

I like the idea of being led by my faithful canine companion to another plane of non-existence (though I don't want to have to stumble onto it with a gut wound and while we're at, I'm not planning on running over anyone in a wheelchair, no matter what dimension I find myself). Fox did that scene so well, that culmination of everything he was supposed to be, and had learned. We were used to the flashbacks all along, so these final bursts of insight into the past should not have surprised us, but the heart wrenching emotion that came with them this time around was almost hard to bear. Each epiphany and awakening we saw coming, but still they blinded us (yes, yes, we know, except Shannon and Sayid, boo!) The peace and happiness that came after - well the whole series seemed worth that. No more questions. It doesn't matter anymore. Not all of life's mysteries are meant to be revealed.

Suffice to say, everything on the island was real, we know that now (remember the creators promised us from season one that we were not in purgatory). Hurley and Ben maintained it for years after and when everyone finished with his/her life, they all showed up together, as if pre-arranged. Kate had been waiting years apparently. Jack finally found faith. And the light was never extinguished.

Miss you guys already.

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The Pee-wee Herman Show - NOW ON BROADWAY (click here for latest dates)








a kate west review
written by Paul Reubens & Bill Steinkellner (John Paragon)
directed by Alex Timbers
at Club Nokia/LALive, 800 W. Olympic Blvd. LA 90015
contact 213-765-7000, www.clubnokia.com or www.ticketmaster.com
running January 12 - February 7

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls! He's back! The 80's icon man-child known as Pee-wee Herman (a.k.a. Paul Reubens) is settling in for a limited time only in the land of La-La, downtown Los Angeles. Catch him now at LA Live's Club Nokia in the newly renovated downtown (a la the Disneyfication of New York's Times Square).

Originally created by Paul Reubens as a character for the world-renowned Groundlings Theatre, Pee-wee Herman became a cult-like figure after Tim Burton's surprise hit "Pee-wee's Big Adventure". His tailored grey suit, white shoes, crew-cut hair and red bowtie made nerdom, if not cool, then hipper for not being cool. "Pee-wee's Playhouse" had a nice little run on television and won a few Emmys, appealing to children and adults alike. What really catapulted him into fame was the endless repetition of lines (and that unmistakable laugh) from the show and movie by enraptured fans, who weren't able to tell you exactly what they loved, except that Pee-wee made them laugh. Hard.

The current show brings back characters from the Playhouse, such as Miss Yvonne (Lynne Stewart), the most beautiful woman in Puppetland, Cowboy Curtis (Phil LaMarr, replacing the original buckaroo Laurence Fishburne), Mailman Mike (John Moody), Chairry (now Lori Alan) and Jambi the Genie (John Paragon). Surrounded by a cacophony of relics from 1950's t.v. shows, Pee-wee merrily jabbers on to both neighbors and inanimate objects, like the chair, the clock, the globe, fish, flowers, a mechanical robot and a flying Pterodactyl. Addressing the audience, he pulls us in right away, announcing the secret word, our only role having to scream loudly every time a cast member uses it. Each entrance is more exciting than the last (except for the grand entrance by the man himself), the crowd going wild at every memorable line and reference. Notably missing from the very first cast is, of course, the late Phil Hartman, a great friend of Reubens.

In this episode, based on the HBO special of the same name, Pee-wee finds out a secret about Miss Yvonne and very much wanting a wish of his own, selflessly gives it away so she can have her heart's desire. His friends rally to give him a happy ending, gently poking fun at each other and gleefully citing pop cultural references all the while (and sing and dance!) Interspersed with a cartoon, fan mail and the endlessly fascinating old time film about how not to be a Mr. Bungle (you'll have to see it to believe it), everyone has a grand old time, especially the audience. There is an out-of-character scene with a Bear (Drew Powell) which is almost jarring, but even that Reubens pulls off effortlessly in the end.

The real success behind this character is his ability to interest small children and adults of every age with simple plots and morals, peppered with more sophisticated innuendoes. The campy reverence for the nostalgic era of children's shows is quite endearing. While making fun of himself in a way, Pee-wee remains an innocent, truly joyful in his performance, but winking at the crowd all the while. Not an easy feat. It's a big show with big heart and Reubens and cast (especially Lynne Stewart, Phil LaMarr and John Paragon) do have a terrific time up on stage so it's almost impossible not to be swept away in the feverish acclaim. Unless you're already familiar with his work, it is difficult to explain the cult status. Personal indiscretions aside (get over it already), this guy is often underrated as a versatile, multi-talented and sometimes brilliant character actor and comedian. But hopefully this show will produce more Pee-wee awareness. Give him a chance folks, he (his laughter anyway) is infectious. Hope you remember your Pledge of Allegiance. I know you are, but what am I?

Anyone else have "Tequila" stuck in his/her head?
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tequila_(song))

Cast
Paul Reubens (Pee-wee)
John Moody (Mailman Mike)
Drew Powell (Bear)
John Paragon (Jambi)
Jesse Garcia (Sergio)
Phil LaMarr (Cowboy Curtis)
Lynne Marie Stewart (Miss Yvonne)
Lance Roberts (King of Cartoons)
Josh Myers (Firefighter)
Lori Alan, Josh Myers, John Paragon, Drew Powell, Lance Roberts (Voices)

Watch the original Mr. Bungle here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s7X5-Drctk
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John Hughes




















a kate west reflection

This man was my whole high school experience. I was an MTV 80's teen and reveled in all the pop culture America could give me. Finally, someone understood the teen point of view and spoke our dialogue. In our time. From Ferris Bueller's rebellious independence to all the Breakfast Club angst, Hughes gave us what we wanted and needed and made us feel normal in our brand new 80's world. We'll never forget you.

"Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. "

The Classics:

The Breakfast Club Ferris Bueller's Day Off Bueller...Bueller... Edition (Special Collector's Edition) Home Alone Some Kind of Wonderful (Special Collector's Edition) Pretty in Pink (Everything's Duckie Edition) Uncle Buck Planes, Trains and Automobiles Weird Science (High School Reunion Collection) Read more!

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Star Trek

a kate west reflection 


A Sci-Fi nerd for as long as I can remember, "Star Trek" has to be my first love and Spock my first crush. Cold, emotionally unavailable intellectuals ... ah, that's what I'm doing wrong. Anyway, enough about me, let's Trek talk. 

I admit I was skeptical about the new movie, and purists will still take issue with some of the creative liberties of the story lines. Written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, this adaptation of way-too-little-of Starfleet history does nonetheless manage to remain essentially true to Gene Roddenberry's original characters, believe it or not. Just keep thinking alternate-universe time lines. 

Directed by J.J. Abrams ("Lost"), the new "Star Trek" brings together old crewmembers Spock (Zachary Quinto of "Heroes" fame), Dr. "Bones" McCoy (Karl Urban), Chekov (Anton Yelchin), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg) and Sulu (John Cho) in a whole new old adventure. Also, Eric Bana co-stars as the villain Nero and Leonard Nimoy himself appears as an older version of Spock (that will be explained when you see it). Confused yet? 

Suffice to say, there is some rewritten history, but not enough to really mess with the essence of the classic Enterprise gang we have come to know and love. We get to see Kirk, Spock and crew back when they first enroll in the Academy and then go on their first mission. It's nice to speculate on how they all met and what their first impressions of each other were. Urban's McCoy is especially good, as he channels DeForest Kelley to a T. 

Again, some of the back story is a tad different, due to messing with time travel, but you will recognize everyone. Simon Pegg is an excellent Scottish Engineer and Quinto is a perfect Spock. By the time Chris Pine dons the yellow shirt of command, he is a young Shatner incarnate. Yelchin's Chekov is a little overdone (but so was Walter Koenig). Zoe Saldana is fine as Uhura and John Cho handles Sulu alright, for what little screen time he has. There's even a brief and unrecognizable appearance from Winona Ryder as Spock's Mother. And Michael Giacchino's original score contributes to the excitement and hipness that is the new Abrams film and is overall a fun ride. 

I don't know whether or not the new "Star Trek" will stand the test of time as it is someone's personal version of a beloved franchise. And while it is action-packed and so very cool, it doesn't cover the core attraction - mainly the ideal universe the original creators envisioned. "Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its five year mission - To explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no (one) has gone before." 

And let's not forget the Prime Directive, an important Starfleet law of noninterference with other civilizations, much like the creed our contemporary wildlife photographers and filmmakers adhere to. I loved "Star Trek" for the comradery and the messages of morality in the story lines. And for the idealism of building an organization that brought together different races (and species) in one common mission. "Star Trek" inspired us to invent cell phones and to have interracial crew members and even female captains. This vision of our future helped NASA work on our present. 

And is there another 1960's forward-thinking television show that spawned so many equally idealistic spin-offs? "Next Generation", "Deep Space Nine", "Voyager", "Enterprise" - each of these shows tried something different, while keeping to the main point - promoting peace and unity whenever and wherever possible in this vast universe of ours. If there is a sequel (and based on audience response, I don't see why there would not be), I'd like to see the characters go a little deeper into that part of our space which inspires us to improve on our own humanity. 

J.J. Abrams may not be the biggest ST fan, but surely he can understand the appeal. "Live Long and Prosper". 

 



























More Star Trek: http://www.katewestreviews.com/2001/12/star-trekvoyager.html 

Action Chick Flick Link: http://actionflickchick.com/superaction/star-trek-2009 Old Star Trek (start collecting now): Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 [Blu-ray]
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Sandman





















The World of Neil Gaiman
a kate west recommendation and a fangirl's Dream

The Sandman series is a visually stunning and esoterically entertaining view of the character of Dream (Morpheus). And his family (which includes his über trendy Goth sister Death). At times cynical, dark and biting, it can also be surprisingly light. But only once in a while. Mostly, it's a surreal fantasy world of omnipotent gods who play with human emotions. Keep in mind however, how even the mighty must fall.

The Sandman is one of the Endless Ones. There are seven fascinating members in the genealogy: Destiny, Death, Destruction, Despair, Desire and Delirium (a particular odd delight). Each of them has his/her own story to tell, but Dream features prominently. Forced into exile, escaping, dying and returning, ad nauseam, are all part of his own timeline (which is never in sync with our own). Credit the vivid imagination richly unfolding in each graphic novel to creator Neil Gaiman's genius. Every one is a special treat and should be savored like a Chagall in a museum. But see for yourself. Please.

Start With This One:
The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes


The Endless Ones:
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WATCHMEN












novel by Alan Moore
artwork by Dave Gibbons
a kate west review

The long awaited newest superhero movie "Watchmen" finally arrives to Los Angeles after several false starts. Not only is there a controversial change in the ending, but also creator Alan Moore remains bitter about his work being Hollywoodized. The original 1980's D.C. comic series debuted to some skepticism itself, due to its dark nature and deeply flawed heroes. But it ultimately achieved cult status, becoming one of the most famous modern graphic novels.

Purists will of course take issue with the change of ending (you've been warned), and pure thrill-seekers will be baffled by the despairing bleakness of the film. Director Zack Snyder (actually a fan of Moore, in spite of the creator's animosity), creates a faithful adaptation, up until the finale and the casting is spot on. Those familiar with the series will appreciate the small character moments and personalities that make up the detailed universe of "Watchmen". It may help you to read the novel before seeing the film, although it is not vital to understanding the plot. The movie is quite thorough.

A group of 1940's superheroes (shown in flashbacks) help rid the world of crime while trying to tend to their own lives. Some of them make it, some don't. They are the Minutemen. A new generation comes along in the 80's, only to be forced into early retirement by a society hell bent against vigilantism. They are the Watchmen. One of the originals is murdered, however, prompting the new crew to get back into the fight.

Nite Owl, The Comedian, Ozymandias, Dr. Manhattan, Silk Spectre and Rorschach are some of the vibrantly different heroes and villains of the story. Aside from plenty of action, the movie is chock full of betrayal, sordid pasts, madness and fear. In this version of history, Richard Nixon takes on a third term and every man, woman and child hopes the Russians won't send nuclear warheads raining down on America. The Watchmen are rejected, yet the world still ends up needing them to save the planet. Isn't that always the way? No respect for hardworking masked saviors.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan is fantastic as the devilish Comedian and Jackie Earle Haley conveys the tortured Rorschach to perfection. So many of the scenes are exact storyboards lifted right out of the comic pages. Rorschach's expressions and violence match the novel panel for panel, as do Nite Owl's (Stephen McHattie) awkwardness at developing into a true hero. Billy Crudup is not outshone by the flawless special effects look of his character, but rather makes it his own, turning from mortal into god. And Matthew Goode's arrogant Ozymandias works quite well. To say more would deprive one of the gradual unfolding of each revelation. Suffice it to say, it is a well-executed rendition of a cult classic, despite Moore's petulance. One main complaint however - the soundtrack. Some of the songs choices are tired and often random. Sometimes they are too obvious a choice and sometimes don't fit the era. In a perfect world, the DVD would be released with a brand new musical score. Here's hoping.

Granted, 'tis a black world indeed, and one that asks for insight into our modern world and our own penchant for harming each other. The uncompromising Rorschach is even driven mad by it. So don't expect Superman or even Batman fare - this story is quite somber and kudos to Snyder for his meticulous adaptation. That was a brave undertaking.


Directed by:





Graphic Novel:
Watchmen

Blu Ray:
Watchmen [Blu-ray]


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Sex and the City - the Movie

Sex and the City
a kate west review











The much-anticipated film "Sex and the City" delivers luscious fashion images to its multitude of eager fans. Designer dresses and shoes galore abound as does, of course, the gorgeous background of a hip Manhattan, New York. All served up in a yummy visual feast that you won't be able to take your eyes off of.

Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha are back, a little older, but maybe not so much wiser. As in the show, they keep making the same mistakes, falling back on friendship for support and these life experiences force them to grow up just the tiniest bit. This is the main complaint of naysayers, that that film is merely an expanded episode, but any transition from television to film will inevitably go that route, since the two mediums are so different. However, rabid fans will be satiated by the gorgeous accessories and the familiar patterns of characters. Just keep in mind that there is only so much you can fit into a feature length film, versus six years of a series run. If you allow yourself to enjoy the ride, you'll find that the movie ties in nicely with the series and that even though the series finale seemed to give us a final note, there is always more urban angst to squeeze out of truly neurotic New Yorkers. And isn't that part of the fun?

It's not Shakespeare people, so let yourself go - drink that cosmopolitan, rent that Prada handbag and bring your best gal pals. And toast fabulous women in their 40's and 50's who are still viable, beautiful and more than relevant, with or without men (plus, nice addition of sweet Jennifer Hudson, guys!)


Past review of the show here:
http://www.katewestreviews.com/2004/12/sex-and-city.html

Directed by Michael Patrick King
Produced by Michael Patrick King
Sarah Jessica Parker
Written by Michael Patrick King


The Complete Series:
Sex and the City - The Complete Series (Collector's Giftset)

Featured Website:
www.BagBorroworSteal.com
(best viewed when watching the show or playing the theme song by Douglas J. Cuomo ...)

Update: SATC2?
Meh.
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Sock Puppet Showgirls

Harvey Finklestein's
Sock Puppet Showgirls
a kate west review
directed by John and Stephanie Shaterian
a West Coast Premiere
at Theatre Asylum
6320 Santa Monica Blvd, LA 90038





contact (800) 838-2006 or www.brownpapertickets.com
Fridays 11 p.m.; tix $15; EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 21
www.harveyfinklestein.com / www.myspace.com/harveyfinklestein

What could possibly be worse than your friend making you watch the dreadfully campy and overdone Paul Verhoven movie "Showgirls"? Secretly realizing that it's actually a good bad and that it has since gained a phenomenal cult following. And that you love it. For those of you delighting in spectacularly failed Hollywood projects, you'll WANT to see it, again - and again and again, too. And what's even better than that kind of bad? A "Showgirls" sock puppet version!

Yes, it's true, sock puppets recreate the horrendous cinematic fiasco, thanks to Harvey Finklestein's outrageous production. Directors John and Stephanie Shaterian (married, with puppets) ensure that the actors aren't the stars here, the sock puppets are. If you don't know the story, here's the synopsis direct from a show program: "An angry girl escapes to Las Vegas to become a dancer. After all the fucking and bad acting she ends up having to leave Las Vegas because she hurts a bitch and opens a can of whoop ass on a celebrity, and because she is a whore, and they don't allow whores in Las Vegas." With that enticement, how can you say no?

Dorien Davies portrays adorable sock puppet Nomi (Elizabeth Berkley in the film), the wide-eyed skank who becomes a successful dancer in Vegas and then gives it all up again. Davies has emotional and improvisational range in voice alone, matched by Lowe Taylor playing Crystal (Gina Gershon in the film), the experienced sock puppet dancer who shows Nomi the ropes, only to have her turn against her at the end. Both Davies and Taylor are in top form, strongly steering the scenes forward and improvising their little hearts out. They are truly the heart and strength of the show. You'll love Davies' plaintive wail, "I am not a whore!"

Eddie Beasley, Jonathan Caplan and Andy Wolf (this night's understudy) round out the cast just fine, playing sleazy agents, managers and even the stereotypical gay choreographer (Patrick Bristow in the film). Cardboard car cutouts and metal poles also help direct the imagination to recall the movie. Not for the faint of heart, this show goes all out, uncensored and to the raunchiest extreme: i.e. it's a late night show for a reason, no kids allowed!

It's a little surreal to see the occasional hand pop out and at the same time hilarious to watch the sock puppet dance numbers (of which there all several), although one does get weary of certain repeated humor, such as the stereotypical gay choreographer. It's a fun, short show however, and the funniest bits are hearing actual lines from the movie, written by the over-hyped screenwriter Joe Eszterhas himself. Yes, it's dumb, but really, isn't the movie is to blame for that? At least this way, we can let naked cotton puppets shock us for the evening, a definite improvement over the movie.

Don't miss the Classic Original:
Showgirls (Fully Exposed Edition) Read more!

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Tin Man

Tin Man
a Sci-fi Channel Mini Series
a kate west review





The Sci-fi Channel "Tin Man" six hour mini series is an odd and very loose adaptation of L. Frank Baum's "Wizard of Oz" stories. An unfortunate cross between "Mad Max" and "Battlestar Galactica", it fails as both a uniquely interesting adaptation and as an original piece.

The movie concerns a girl named D.G. (named after ancestor Dorothy Gale) who accidentally discovers she is heir to a throne in the alternate dimension, the Outer Zone, or the O.Z. (yes, like the trendy O.C.). Zooey Deschanel plays the waitress-turned-princess alternating between stoicism and wide-eyed surprise, her two main looks apparently. Her childhood dreams of magic turn out to be real memories and her parents turn out to be robots placed by her real mother in order to take care of her and to shield her from her evil older sister, Azkadellia (Kathleen Robertson), whose body is taken over by a witch (Karin Konoval). She's got to get to Central City to find the Mystic Man (Richard Dreyfus). Along the way she meets up with Glitch (Alan Cumming), a former royal aide whose brain has been viciously removed. They in turn rescue a man in an iron prison suit named Cain (Neal McDonough) or the Tin Man, since he used to be an officer of the law. Last but not least, is the fluffy and timid creature named Raw (Raoul Trujillo).

Many adventures ensue, while Azkadellia's Gestapo-like Longcoats pursue the gang relentlessly, especially Zero (Callum Keith Rennie), the main person responsible for torturing the Tin Man's family and forcing him to watch from behind his metal hell. They even run into a shape shifter from DG's past who turns into a dog. She used to call him Toto, when she couldn't say Tutor (Blu Mankuma). The filmmakers make some bizarre choices, including having Azkadelia's flying monkeys literally spring from her tattooed chest. The Mystic Man proves to be a disappointment, as he is addicted to the vapors and a help to no one. The gang ultimately save their universe from destruction and the original royal family is restored. But it simply isn't an engaging enough interpretation and the look itself is drab and apocalyptic depressing.

The problem with the movie is not that it detracts from the Judy Garland film, as that in itself was an adaptation, but that it adds nothing to the original Oz books. There is no real new dimension or illumination and while there is nothing inherently wrong with making alternate endings or variations of beloved characters (Shakespeare did it, after all), this doesn't quite cut it. And it can be done quite well, as demonstrated in both the hit novel and musical "Wicked". But in this case, "Tin Man" makes little impression on the Oz universe. So you can save the room on your TIVO.

Created by
Craig Van Sickle
Steven Long Mitchell
Directed by
Nick Willing

Starring
Zooey Deschanel
Neal McDonough
Alan Cumming
Raoul Trujillo
Kathleen Robertson
Richard Dreyfuss
Blu Mankuma
Callum Keith Rennie

Composer
Simon Boswell

Alternatives:
The Annotated Wizard of Oz (Centennial Edition)

The Wizard of Oz (Three-Disc Collector's Edition) Read more!

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SNL

a kate west reflection



















Kristen Wiig in ELLE's September Issue

Saturday Night Live ain't what it used to be. I suppose it's always appealed to adolescents and since early SNL happened when I was pretty young, that's probably why it appealed to me. Or maybe it's pure nostalgia. (Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Joe Piscopo, Garret Morris, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtain, Steve Martin and the late greats Phil Hartman and Jim Belushi!) But lately, it just seems that every year sends the SNL train wreck careening more downhill. But that's just me.

The highlight of the past couple of seasons though, is the relative newcomer Groundling Kristen Wiig (www.groundlings.com) whose original characters like her distracted Target Lady, spacey Aunt Linda, or her brilliant impressions of Judy Garland and Megan Mullaly are real stand outs. Even her half of the A-Holes (”You look like a rabbit”) is initially less tedious, though Saturday Night Live's insistence on placing recurring obnoxious characters in the same scenes, but with different backgrounds, may drive you mad (remember "It's Pat?).

Gratned, SNL has an impressive alumni list like Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, Chris Rock, Molly Shannon, Chris Kattan, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Lovitz, Julia Sweeney, David Spade, Cheri Oteri, Will Ferrell, to name but a few. Such is it's allure that two recent televion shows tried to depict it's inner workings: the sadly failed "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and the more successful "30 Rock" (with recent SNL graduate Tina Fey). And the man upstairs, the odd man in charge, Lorne Michaels, a character himself, continues to reap the benefits of his monolithic hit.

It's wonderful that so many went on to have great careers, and that SNL has not only a cult following, but a fairly hefty mainstream appeal as well. Still, it's harder to watch the older you get. So Thank God for teenagers. Then again, who knows what will happen now what with the upcoming Hollywood writer's strike. Hopefully, they'll run some classic reruns, rather than churn out more clunkers. I won't be watching. But I will honk for the strikers. Peace.

Current Repertory Players
Fred Armisen (2002-present)
Will Forte (2002-present)
Bill Hader (2005-present)
Darrell Hammond (1995-present)
Seth Meyers (2001-present)
Amy Poehler (2001-present)
Maya Rudolph (2000-present)
Andy Samberg (2005-present)
Jason Sudeikis (2005-present)
Kenan Thompson (2003-present)
Kristen Wiig (2005-present)

Remembering the Classics:
Saturday Night Live - The Complete First Season

Saturday Night Live - The Complete Second Season

The Real Classics:
Laurel & Hardy (Sons of the Desert/The Music Box/Another Fine Mess/Busy Bodies/County Hospital)

The Abbott and Costello Show Featuring "Who's on First?" "Don Juan Costello" & "Two Tens for a Five"

The George Burns & Gracie Allen Collection

Best of Jack Benny

The Dick Van Dyke Show - Season One (5 Disc Box Set)

I Love Lucy: The Complete Series

The Carol Burnett Show - Collector's Edition Vols 1-5 Read more!

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