After having streaming television for a few months we are still trying to figure out how some things work. Like for instance, why some programs are available with our Hulu Plus — but only on my computer, not directly streaming to the TV. Luckily, we can do a work-around, by mirroring the laptop screen to the television, so last night I was able to share the British cult classic series The Avengers with the kid. We watched a few episodes, and I think she liked the mixture of science fiction, humor, and action-adventure. She jumped up and did some karate along with Emma Peel during "The Winged Avenger."
Emma and Steed discuss the case at his apartment
When she's not fighting crime, Emma enjoys more artistic pursuits
Although I'm still not sure about the online-only availability, mirroring does open up many more possibilities, as there are old films available on YouTube and other websites (Internet Archive, Open Culture) too ... Cable really does seem so last century lately.
We got to see Thor: The Dark World this past weekend. I guess I've been somewhat invested in these Marvel comic book adaptation movies, as I've seen most of them — Captain America, Iron Man 3, The Avengers, the first Thor. Of all of them, I found Thor the most entertaining. Apart from the complete movie star quality of star Chris Hemsworth, the film had humor.
Director Kenneth Branagh is no stranger to going over-the-top with Shakespearean theatrics in even his non-Bard films, but he recognized that Thor was at its heart, larger-than-life and extremely theatrical. How could it not be. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is not just a super-hero, he is a Norse god, and his cohorts make up the Norse pantheon, from his father, the All-father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and mother Frigga (Rene Russo) to his best buddy Heimdall (Idris Elba), the guardian of their home, Asgard. And then there's Loki, the trickster, Thor's bad-boy half-brother. Branagh wisely cast Royal Academy of Dramatic Art grad Tom Hiddleston in the role, and he has not only nailed Loki's mad whims, but dug into his daddy issues while bringing both a sense of menace and vulnerability to his appearances in both Thor films and The Avengers. Will someone get this actor and this character his own movie already?
Loki and Thor team up — or do they?
Star-crossed lovers? Awkward.
Thor, look around, yes, over there ...
Hiddleston/Loki is so much fun and so magnetic every moment on screen that one almost forgets about the rest of the film. Who really cares about the Big Bad, Malekith, played by the excellent Christopher Eccleston, who is hidden under some hideous make-up and inexplicably speaks in subtitled Dark Elf language for the first part of the film. Malekith learns English pretty quickly and that annoyance is then dropped and forgotten.
I can't care much about or for Natalie Portman, either, who plays Thor's love interest Jane, who is supposed to be a brilliant scientist, but spends most of the film moping over her hunky maybe-boyfriend. She shares more chemistry in two very brief scenes with potential suitor (played by the again-excellent) Chris O'Dowd. Odin and many others kept reminding Thor that a human's lifespan is just a blip compared to theirs, and I couldn't help but feel secretly happy for Thor that once his fling with Jane has run its short course he could spend more quality time with the fierce and lovely Sif (Jaime Alexander) with whom he shared tons more chemistry in just a few brief scenes.
Kat Dennings and Stellan Skarsgård manage to make the most of their goofy side-kick roles — they seem to inhabit the earth and world of Thor much more convincingly than Portman, who seems strangely out of touch and out-of-synch with everyone else. There are many other good actors in blink-or-miss roles: Zachary Levi, Ray Stevenson, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Alice Krige.
Yes, that's Christopher Eccleston in there somewhere as Malekith
I do love the look of Malekith's crew, The Dark Elves (costumes by Wendy Partridge)
Director Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire) utilizes all of the special effects at his disposal and occasionally some of these visuals are a hit, especially a time/space anomaly that is just X Files weird enough near the front of the film, and then gets brought back for comic effect towards the end. But the high points of Thor: The Dark World rest most definitely not with the Lord of the Rings meets Star Wars-like battle sequences, but the character interactions. Yet again, a comic book movie chooses to rest heavier in the CGI department than with its heroes. I've never been a comic book junkie, but don't folks get hooked on the stories because of the characters? Anyway, the best scenes in Thor feature the two brothers, Thor and Loki, verbally and physically sparring. Or Loki standing up to his "father" Odin, or Loki having a touching exchange with his mother Frigga. Or shape-shifting in numerous amusing ways. Basically, Loki with anyone.
November may be here already (how did that happen?) but I'm in no mood yet to say a final goodbye to Halloween. Or the scary movies I marked to watch on Netflix and Hulu. The other night I finally got around to watching The Cabin in the Woods. I didn't get to see it when it came out last year - I don't get to see much "adult" fare first run. I'm a longtime Buffy and Angel fan. I like and respect Joss Whedon, but am the first to admit that his recent work can be hit or miss. Dollhouse? Yikes. The Avengers? Noisy fun, but not as amazing as it could have been. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? I tried, I really did, but it's a personality-free snoozefest for me.
So for all of the rave reviews, I was still a little hesitant about The Cabin in the Woods. It's sort of a difficult film to write about, because if you haven't seen it yet, pretty much saying anything might spoil it for you. What I can say is that Whedon and Drew Goddard, who co-wrote the script (in three days) and also (first-time) directed the film, know their horror films and monsters and weren't afraid to use them.
The film follows five college students Dana, Curt, Jules, Marty, and Holden on a weekend getaway to ... you guessed it ... a cabin in the woods. What should be non-stop fun with sex, drugs, and rock and roll quickly escalates into terror, zombies, and fighting for their lives. The 95-minute film has lots of forward momentum, and plays with tons of scary movie tropes, but the real pay-off, for fans of the Whedonverse or any horror films definitely comes in the last act, when all hell literally breaks loose, to terror and comic effect.
"Do not read the Latin!" (L-R: Curt (Chris Hemsworth), Dana (Kristen Connolly), and Holden (Jesse Williams) have obviously not seen as many slasher movies as the audience.
The Cabin in the Woods has as much gore as it does humor, but like other Whedon efforts, it's the funny moments that stay with you, especially the banter between some science geeks at a place called The Facility (which is staffed by such fun folks as Amy Acker, Richard Jenkins, and Bradley Whitford) and a bit of business involving a speakerphone. Apparently Whedon & co. put a lot of thought into not just the things that go bump in the woods, but the costumes the main protagonists wear:
The first of the archetypes we meet is Dana, dancing in her knickers in front of an open window and revealed to have recently had an affair with her tutor; obviously she is the tramp or Whore (Kristen Connolly). Then we see her friend Jules in a floral dress and new blonde hair. Jules (Anna Hutchison) is in a stable relationship with boyfriend Curt (Chris Hemsworth); Jules is the innocent girl or Virgin. Curt wears a plain grey t-shirt and is evidently book-smart; he is the geek or Scholar. Curt’s friend Holden (Jesse Williams) arrives catching a football in a blue hooded sweatshirt; clearly the jock or Athlete. And finally pot smoker Marty in a shabby cardigan and shirt; Marty (Fran Kranz) is the stoner or Fool.
Do I need to see The Cabin in the Woods again anytime soon? Probably not. I really hate zombies. But did I enjoy it and did it live up to its positive buzz? Most definitely, although as I stated earlier, its humor, not splatter, was the real take-away.
And those last fifteen minutes. "Let's get the party started."
Like a whole lot of other people, we saw The Avengers when it opened last Friday. As a big fan of Joss Whedon, I am happy for the director's success and hope that it helps him in his future projects. The cast was terrific. I liked Scarlett Johansson in this film more than any other movie I've ever seen her in. I didn't even mind the 2 1/2+ hours length. But I have to admit that the enemy — some horde of CGI insect/crustacean monsters were just damn ugly and uninvolving.
I understand that is the Hollywood deal. No matter how clever the repartee that Whedon and Co. have created for the bevy of superheroes, modern blockbusters demand ridiculously loud, city-destroying special effects. New York gets trashed once again on film, with Grand Central taking the brunt of the assault. Yawn.
Oh no, New York City is under attack! Again.
But mind-numbing ending battle aside, there were some definite highlights and Whedonesque flourishes that would bring me back for the inevitable sequel(s).
The opening sequence features Johansson as Black Widow. She kick-asses her way out of what at first appears to be an impossible situation. The scene was definite nod to Buffy and all the other cool gals that Whedon has loved to write and celebrate. It also set the tone for introducing the rest of the reluctant and unpredictable band of superheroes. Black Widow didn't need a big iron suit or any superpowers to work her magic, either. Cool.
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man was in fine form as always, bantering a mile-a-minute with anyone and everyone, "Dr. Banner, your work is unparalleled. And I'm a huge fan of the way you lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster."
Chris Evans as Captain America managed to hold his own with RDJ and the rest of the crew. Many of his lines played off his man-out-of-time situation and good-guy professional hero ethic.
Chris Hemsworth as Thor was a hoot, spouting pompous Asgardian dialogue, but somehow knowing it sounded out of place, which kept him from becoming pompous.
Mark Ruffalo was a perfect Dr. Bruce Banner, AKA The Hulk.
Captain America, "Doc ... I think now is the perfect time for you to get angry."
Bruce Banner, "That's my secret Cap, I'm always angry."
Samuel L. Jackson was his usual Samuel L. Jackson super-cool self as Nick Fury, who takes no crap from anyone, including the ominous and bossy World Security Council, "I recognize the council has made a decision, but given that it's a stupid ass decision, I've elected to ignore it!"
Jeremy Renner was also good as Hawkeye, his never-ending supply of special arrows proving remarkably effective against gigantic aliens.
And did I mention how absolutely fine they all looked?
All of the Avengers had their moment to shine, but the scales seemed definitely tipped in the direction of The Hulk. Ruffalo got the most character development, and his alter ego got the funniest moments, taking out his frustrations in wonderful ways on Thor and Loki. Tom Hiddleston, another one of the film's highlights, may have been given a thin motive for his badassery as main villain Loki, but he managed to be intriguing and have some bad guy individual screen time with each Avenger.
Captain America to Loki, "What's the matter? You scared of lightning?"
Loki, "I'm not overly fond of what follows ... " (Thor arrives)
The best part of the film was all of the bickering between the reluctant team members — i.e. Whedon dialogue.
Iron Man, "Falling in line's not really my style."
Captain America, "You're all about style, aren't you?"
Thor, "You people are so petty. And tiny."
Did you see that, Thor? It looks like a gigantic shrimp!
Bruce Banner, "I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy's brain is a bag full of cats. You can smell crazy on him."
Thor, "Take care how you speak. Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard. And he is my brother."
Black Widow, "He killed eighty people in two days."
Thor, "He's adopted."
Hulk disoriented. Which way downtown?
The Avengers, as individuals, dislike each other on sight and are far from being team players. But when the chips are down, they manage to pull it together to fight the CGI. The Avengers the film, even with the too-much CGI at its climax, is still a lot of fun. Joss Whedon may direct the sequel, which would be fine. But maybe he should consider doing a smaller, but still action-packed movie centered on Black Widow. With no alien lobster-monsters. That would be really interesting.
I've been very happily Lost the past few weeks. How did I miss this show? Oh right, I have a five year old and it's been on for five years...
Anyway, it's never too late to join the party, luckily, especially with hulu and my fabulous MacBook Pro screen. So these days after the kid is tucked in bed I have been tucking myself in and settling back into an episode or two on my laptop. I'm halfway through season two at the moment.
I love television, always have, and enjoy shows in many different genres, but my favorites are usually found in mystery, fantasy or British categories (Buffy, Angel, Poirot, The Avengers, Farscape, Are You Being Served?, The Night Stalker, Lovejoy—the list goes on and on). I wouldn't say that Lost is the greatest show I've ever seen, mostly because I shy away from superlatives, but it is damn good, as Sawyer might say. It manages to blend fantasy, mystery, romance, even a reality/Survivor feeling with excellent characterization. Most of the actors are top notch. Even with its intricate plotting the show, although full of quick-moving action, isn't afraid to let the characters take time to interact, both on the island and in glimpses of their past. Some might find it slow, but I love it.
Lost manages to tap into our deepest fantasies and fears. Who hasn't had a deserted island fantasy? What if you could start fresh, where nobody knew your baggage—is that even possible, or does it follow you to paradise? What could be scarier than a plane crash? Or your child being kidnapped? Or not being sure you can trust those around you? Or will you will be able to survive in a very unpredictable wilderness? What does it take to bring out your very worst or your very best? How interconnected are we all really, if we bothered to find out? But you get the idea. So excuse me. I've got some more episodes to catch up with . . .
I wanna be Emma Peel. In a lot of ways I'm already like her. I'm smart. Independent. I don't take guff from anyone. I probably could stand to learn a few more self-defense moves.
A Pierre Cardin-clad Steed of my own wouldn't be too shabby, either. I could get used to drinking champagne more often. And I definitely wouldn't mind having her wardrobe, most of it designed by John Bates.
Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks she was a fashion icon.
"The internets" is an amazing place. I recently discovered through ancestry.com that one of my ancestors was one of the first women executed at what would come to be known as the Salem Witch Trials, Sarah Averill Wildes. I wonder what my maternal grandmother would think. She did extensive family research many years ago to prove a connection to a Revolution-era ancestor in order to become a member of the Colonial Dames. But this bit of history goes back farther than that. Sarah, at age 65, was hanged on July 19, 1692.
I remember having to read something about the trials in English class and being pretty bored with all the"Goody this" and "Goody that" characters. It must have been The Crucible, unless it was another popular fictional account. As interesting as the subject matter was, the Salem witch trials came most alive for me in two fantasy shows from my childhood.
In a two- or three-part episode of Bewitched, Samantha goes back to Salem. I always loved that show and Elizabeth Montgomery, but especially liked how they took what had been a fun, fluffy, fantasy and special-effects show and combined it with some real history. In one of my favorite episodes of The Avengers, "Murdersville," Mrs. Peel goes to visit a friend in his new home and runs into a village full of twisted, crooked individuals. In an extended scene she is hunted and then imprisoned in a chastity belt, and then later placed in the dunking stool, which is a torture device that was also used to ferret out "witches." What human beings will do to one another is astounding. And in the name of religion, too. This scene of public humiliation and torture to a modern, athletic, kick-ass woman brought the horror of how a crowd can be deadly and how a strong woman can be perceived as very threatening.
I have some more research to do, but various accounts of Sarah and her fate suggest that she may have been difficult to get along with, and her disputes with a neighbor woman over something as mundane as the borrowing of a scythe may have contributed to the accusation and her execution. It's difficult being a strong woman in any era, but terrifying to contemplate how a weak-minded herd could result in this sad chapter of history.
at the moment. 
, Angel
, Poirot, The Avengers
, Farscape
, Are You Being Served?
, The Night Stalker
, Lovejoy
—the list goes on and on). I wouldn't say that Lost is the greatest show I've ever seen, mostly because I shy away from superlatives, but it is damn good, as Sawyer might say. It manages to blend fantasy, mystery, romance, even a reality/Survivor feeling with excellent characterization. Most of the actors are top notch. Even with its intricate plotting the show, although full of quick-moving action, isn't afraid to let the characters take time to interact, both on the island and in glimpses of their past. Some might find it slow, but I love it.
A Pierre Cardin-clad Steed of my own wouldn't be too shabby, either. I could get used to drinking champagne more often. And I definitely wouldn't mind having her wardrobe, most of it designed by John Bates.
"The internets" is an amazing place. I recently discovered through ancestry.com that one of my ancestors was one of the first women executed at what would come to be known as the Salem Witch Trials, Sarah Averill Wildes. I wonder what my maternal grandmother would think. She did extensive family research many years ago to prove a connection to a Revolution-era ancestor in order to become a member of the Colonial Dames. But this bit of history goes back farther than that. Sarah, at age 65, was hanged on July 19, 1692.
In one of my favorite episodes of The Avengers, "Murdersville," Mrs. Peel goes to visit a friend in his new home and runs into a village full of twisted, crooked individuals. In an extended scene she is hunted and then imprisoned in a chastity belt, and then later placed in the dunking stool, which is a torture device that was also used to ferret out "witches." What human beings will do to one another is astounding. And in the name of religion, too. This scene of public humiliation and torture to a modern, athletic, kick-ass woman brought the horror of how a crowd can be deadly and how a strong woman can be perceived as very threatening.
