Isn't it funny how often similar projects are developed simultaneously? More often than not is complete coincidence, although that is often hard to believe. We see it time and time again at the cinema. Last year the simultaneous development of similar projects took the battle from the big screen to the small screen with the arrival of two shows. These shows are set in the behind the scenes world of sketch comedy shows. First up was the Aaron Sorkin created Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip starring Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford. It was a dramedy that covered relationship issues, writing problems, and generally took a melodramatic bent on the material. On the other side you had the Tina Fey created (and starring) 30 Rock which is a straight up sitcom. Two shows entered the season, only one has survived to see a second.When 30 Rock debuted I wasn't quite sure that I was going to like it, much less that the show would actually last. The show was slightly off-kilter, but it did not feel as if they knew where they were going. They were not on sure footing. I thought for sure that it would get canceled before it reached its sixth episode. Then it dawned on me, this wasn't Fox! Perhaps the show would have a shot. Sure, networks other than Fox cancel shows that don't perform. But no other network has a track record that equals the fourth network. I'm getting ahead of myself, one episode in and it showed a bit of promise but still had a way to go.
The more episodes that I watched, the more I liked it. 30 Rock combines elements of physical comedy, stupid one liners, and intelligent banter all to increasingly good effect. The show continually got better the further into the series I got. Re-watching the episodes on DVD I have found it to be even better than I remember. The often times seriously off-kilter writing stands out even more when you can watch a number of episodes in rapid succession. I love how it steps away from the sitcom standard laugh track and family setups. It follows in the recent trends of shows like Arrested Development, Scrubs, and The Office. It may not be quite at their level yet, but it is definitely among the better sitcoms (in my eyes).
The cast is led by show creator Tina Fey as Liz Lemon. She is the show runner for a sketch show called The Girlie show, and she must reconcile new boss Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin proving to be one of the best comedic finds in some time) and new star Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), while attempting to have some sort of personal life. Then there is the matter of ditsy Girlie Show star Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) and the collection of writers (Judah Friedlander, Scott Adsit, Keith Powell, Lonny Ross). Rounding out the main cast is Jack McBrayer as the southern tinged Kenneth the page, he steals so many scenes through the season. Then there are all of the guest stars that come in and steal scenes. Among the guest stars during this first season you had Whoopi Goldberg, Nathan Lane, Isabella Rossellini, Paul Reubens, and Will Arnett.
This is a potentially brilliant show that despite less than stellar ratings, NBC has chosen to bring back for a second year. Thank you NBC. It is great that they are willing to move forward with their support of the show. These DVDs have allowed me to getter a second look at the show and see just how good the writing is. Man is this show funny.
Audio/Video. The video is a very nice looking anamorphic 16:9 widescreen. It is crisp, clear, and free of any digital artifacts or defects. The audio is presented in both Dolby Digital stereo and 5.1 (although the case does not reflect this).
Extras. There are a few extras all on the third disk.
- Commentaries. There are 5 episodes with commentary tracks. The weird thing is that all commentaries are on the third disk, although not all of the episodes are. What they did was put the episode on the third disk but only with the commentary audio. I have never come across this before. The episodes are "Tracy Does Conan" with Tracy Morgan, "Black Tie" with Tina Fey, "Hard Ball" with Lorne and Henry Michaels, "Fireworks" with Jack McBrayer, and "Hiatus" with Alec Baldwin. The final two are entirely on the third disk, so you have both audio tracks. I sampled all five of the tracks, and most of them are pretty good. They are not actually insightful, but they are entertaining. The exception is the one with the Michaels, they do not have much to say.
- Deleted Scenes. 10 minutes of cut scenes. Some are pretty funny, some are just sort of there. I get the impression that there are many more. out there.
- The Wrap Party Video including Bloopers. Your standard blooper reel with the added trappings of an E! style "Fake Hollywood Story." There is some funny stuff to be found in these 13 minutes.
- An Evening with Kenneth Shorts. 10 minutes of the NBC Page pretending he has a Letterman style talk show. This is kind of funny.
- Behind the Scenes with Judah Friedlander and with Jack McBrayer and Lonny Ross. Even though it is really one piece, it is presented on the menu as two sections. It is not terribly funny. We get some tour footage around the set and some of the guys cracking jokes. OK for one watch, but you wouldn't miss it.
- Makin' It Happen Shorts. Funny in the context of the episode it appears, but not terribly funny on their own.
Bottomline. Fantastic new series. It survived the dueling "Behind-the-scenes at a SNL type show" series. This is a series that is hard to watch just one episode. The writing is smart, the acting is first rate, and while the episodes stand alone they do exhibit character growth and development that you would not normally expect. This is definitely worth adding to your collection.
Highly Recommended.
When you talk about television success stories It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is not likely to be among the first shows that you mention. Regardless of whether or not you have heard of it, there is no denying the fact that the trio that got it started stuck gold. Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, and Rob McElhenney shot a pilot for $200 and shopped it around. FX picked it up and they were off. The show found decent success on the cable network, as well as some critical success. Of course, I wasn't so sure about it at first. Rewatching it on DVD for the first time since they originally aired, I have found it to be a much more enjoyable experience.
With a title like Yo Yo Girl Cop and a DVD quote claiming: "The acing is fast and furious," I expected to be considerably more entertained than I was. I was expecting to be as entertained as I was during, say, Volcano High or Anna in Kung Fu Land. Sadly, this did not live up to those expectations. That isn't to say this is bad or unwatchable, just that it would be best to keep your dreams of a girl kicking butt in a schoolgirl outfit with a yo-yo in check. With lowered expectations, Yo Yo Girl Cop is a rather fun flick. It is goofy and expects the audience to connect a lot of the pieces for themselves, but when kept on a superficial level it delivers.
We open with a teenage girl, played by pop singer Aya Matsuura, deported by the US to her home of Japan, delivered Hannibal Lecter style (on a hand truck with a half face mask). In Japan, she is recruited by a special operations detective named Kira (Riki Takeuchi), rather, she is coerced with the promise of the release of her mother, currently imprisoned back in the States on suspicion of being a spy. Her job is to infiltrate Seisen Academy and smoke out a terrorist organization that has been targeting the high school. Her armament consists of a standard schoolgirl outfit and a deadly steel yo-yo.
The teen, called K on the DVD sleeve, is given the code name of Saki Asamiya. She is enrolled at Seisen Academy, where a mysterious organization is using a website called Enola-Gay.net (it's not a registered address... I checked) to dispense suicide and bomb making tips to the depressed and picked on student population. Now, Saki has her work cut out for her. She has to find out who is behind the site, and where these bombs are coming from.
Essentially, Yo Yo Girl Cop features a lot of exposition and some action that fails to lead anywhere. The plot is there, but fails to connect the dots. The best I can make of it is the belief that all the students are either suicidal or rebellious and everything should get blown up. There is a lack of faith of the adults in the younger generation. In a way I was reminded of the basis for Battle Royale, a film that has a government sponsored program that allows for the kidnapping of students and then having them kill each other until only one is left. That was another (better) film that took a look at the changing attitudes of youth and the reactions of the establishment. Still, it would be better to leave the social commentary out of Yo Yo Girl Cop and just enjoy it for the cute girls duking it out with yo-yos.
The teen performances are filled with flat angst. While stars like Aya Matsuura and Rika Ishikawa are cute they never convinced me as being full fledged characters. Riki Takeuchi, on the other hand, brings some class to the film as Kira. There is something about his on-screen charisma that feels genuine even in the middle of this nearly plotless exercise in style. He brings an emotional center to the movie as details for his involvement in the project come to light.
This seven track EP is an interesting beast. It reminds me of the 1980's and at times of The Cure and Bauhaus, but it is a sound that I cannot put a firm finger on. I chalk that up to my lake of exposure to this brand of indie rock. Rebuilding the Rights of Statues, or Re-TROS for short, have been influenced by bands like Gang of Four, Interpol, and Joy Division. All three are bands that I have no experience with. However, when the CD arrived unannounced on my doorstep, I have to admit to being a bit curious. I cannot claim to really like it, but it is interesting enough to be getting multiple spins.
As for the music, it is quirky, sparsely arranged, and at times quite weird. The album is marked with open chords, groovy bass lines, and solid drumming. It is something I am having trouble putting into context. It is not exactly my kind of music, but the sound is kind of alluring, especially during the quirkier moments.
Regarding promotion of this title: it appears that for a few series upcoming DVD releases the companies have chosen to only send the final disk of the collection out for review. So, while I will not be able to review any of the episodes, I am able to give you a glimpse into the extras contained on the final disk. Family Guy Volume 5 is being released as a three disk set containing 13 episodes spread across the first two disks, along with their commentary tracks leaving the remainder of the extra features to land on the final disk.
The top choice for this week is The Office: Season Three. If you don't watch this series, you must. Go out and but all three seasons, go to iTunes and buy a few episodes, just do it. The show is an American translation of the BBC series created by Ricky Gervais which ran for two series and a pair of holiday specials earlier in the decade. In 2005 the show was brought to American shores with Steve Carell leading a class of unfamiliar faces into the primetime landscape.
Prior to receiving these buds I primarily used two different sets of headphones, depending on what I was doing. When I am on the move I have found the iPod ear buds to be very good. They offer decent range and for the "in the ear" style they were surprisingly comfortable. I have never been a fan of those. I never found them to be all that comfortable, they would fall out easily and were just more of a hassle than they were worth. They other is a pair of Sony Psyc clip ons. These I use when using my laptop, watching movies and such. They are comfortable for long periods of time, don't fall off, and have decent response for a cheap set of phones. I would use these with my iPod but with the case I have the opening for the headphone jack is too small for the plug on the Sony set. Anyway, these could prove to replace my two sets with one.
Looking for a rousing action film that is bit rougher than your standard Hollywood fare? The City of Violence could be your antidote. This export from South Korea doesn't offer anything new to the action genre, but what it does it does well. The story is a Western set in the present day. It brings together elements of films like Stand By Me, The Sons of Katie Elder, a taste of Kill Bill, and even a touch of The Warriors. 
A third friend enters the mix, though he would be more than happy to let the entire incident become a part of history. Pil-ho (Lee Beum-soo) took over where Wang-jae left off with his gangster ways. The only problem is that Pil-ho has his sights set a little higher. When his pursuit of buying up all the land results in the murder of Wang-jae comes to light, nothing will be able to keep Tae-su and Seok-hwan from having their revenge. The story does sag through the middle third as the circumstances come to light, but it effectively builds to the explosive final set piece.
Ryoo Seung-Wan is referred to as "Korean cinema's answer to Quentin Tarantino." I am not so sure I would go that far in describing him (at least without seeing a few more of his films). However, he does have visual flair to spare with nice use of angles and camera moves. His shooting of the fight sequences balances the up close and personal and the wider scope allowing a better view of what is going on. He gives us odd angles and dramatic pans combined with a gritty look that gives a sense of immediacy. There is no doubt that there he has a talented eye behind the camera.
Audio/Video. The film was shot in super 16 mm with a digital intermediary, meaning there was no conversion from film needed for the transfer, as it the color timing and finishing were done digitally to start with. It has a decidedly gritty look which is likely very close to how it was presented theatrically. The anamorphic widescreen looks good, no complaints to be had regarding it. Audio is presented in it's original Korean (5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS) and with an English dub (5.1 Dolby Digital) Both sound good. I checked the dub versus the offered subtitles and found the spoken dialogue to be a bit better than the subs, though it is always better to listen to the original audio.
Everyone's done it. You've done it in your car, at your desk, in hallways, at the mall, at parties, even in the privacy of your own bedroom. It does not matter how young or how old you are, no one is exempt. You may chosen to use a tool of sorts, perhaps a tennis racket, or a golf club, a novelty pen, or a wooden spoon. Many of you probably resort to using your bare hands. No matter your walk of life, everyone has engaged in this activity. Now, what if you had the opportunity to take that absent minded activity to the stage? What if you could "perform" for hundreds, maybe thousands? No way, much too silly to consider, right? Think again. For over a decade, thousands of fans and dozens of performers have descended upon Oulu, Finland to do just that.
Air guitar is that phenomenon by which the non-musician (well, sometimes musicians take part too) will become one with the music he or she is listening to and will pretend to play along with said music. It could be as simple as strumming at your steering wheel on the way to work, or it could turn into a full-fledged aerobic workout as you take to the sky, jumping and twirling and truly joining forces with your favorite artist. It is fun, exciting, and something that everyone has done at some point. Alexandra Lipsitz's film, Air Guitar Nation, shows you that the absent minded activity that we all do is a serious competition for many.
Two performers take center stage, David 'C-Diddy' Jung and Dan 'Bjorn Turoques' Crane. It starts with the East Coast championship at The Pussycat Club in New York City. It was an event whose turnout surprised promoters as they had turn away hundreds having quickly reached capacity. This results in C-Diddy coming out on top, followed closely by Bjorn. The journey then moves to the West Coast where they send their best against C-Diddy, with yet another win by C-Diddy. The trip ultimately leads to Finland, where... nope, not gonna say. I will, however, say that there was actually a little bit of genuine excitement built up during the entire Finland sequence.