Here's rundown on some of what I've been watching lately.
New fall TV Season:
Much of what I watch of prime time shows is usually stuff my wife watches and records while I'm at work and which I then watch early the next morning when I get in from work. She likes a lot of crime and sci-fi shows which is generally okay with me.
Returning shows:
CSI: NY got off to a rocky start with a way too quick wrap up to last season's cliffhanger probably necessitated by having to spend time explaining the departure of one main character and introducing another. Bounced back rather well with the second episode.
Criminal Minds also had a rather weak opening episode that wrapped up the cliffhanger from last season. Disappointing. The second episode was much better as it was specifically centered around the departure of one of the long time main characters but the writer's had plenty of time to put this episode together and did a good job of it.
Bones got things back together after last season's ending, that sent most of the main characters in different career directions, and had a pretty good opening episode. The introduction of a new character that will create a different dynamic between the two leads started in the opening episode and accelerated in the second episode. This is currently one of my favorite shows.
Fringe seems to me to be moving in a darker direction. My wife's not to crazy about what she's seeing so far. I'm taking a wait and see attitude.
Human Target- well, I'm just gonna have to continue waiting on this one because Fox pushed its season premiere back, with almost no warning, to mid November.
New shows:
Hawaii Five-O was not a show I watched much in its original incarnation but so far I'm liking the character interplay in this revival.
The Defenders also has an enjoyable interplay between the characters. I'm especially enjoying James Belushi's character. This one is also a loose remake of another old show but I remember next to nothing about the original.
The Event is one I'm still taking a "wait and see how it develops" attitude. I was more pleased after two episodes than after just seeing the pilot so that's a bit promising anyway.
At the theaters this past month:
I haven't got out much to see new films lately but here's what I did see.
Going the Distance was a pretty good romantic comedy with some nice chemistry between the leads and a good supporting cast. The ending was a bit too convenient but getting there was enjoyable enough.
Blood Bath of the Bat Beast is a film that was made by a buddy of mine (Larry LoPresti) who has been getting me to help him on these projects of his since we were teenagers in high school together and were shooting on 8mm. The film had its local premiere here in Phoenix last night. On this film I helped Larry by doing a variety of tasks such as running second camera, story boarding a sequence, helping with set FX, playing a small part, and basically doing whatever needed to be done if I was available to help when ever they were shooting. I won't comment on the film itself. You can Google the title and view a few clips and read some about it There may even be a review or two up by now (I know that there's at least one online review of a rough cut we screened last year).
Some recent Movie Night goodies.
Well we finished up the Captain Video serial (which went on a few chapters too long, IMHO) and moved on to Battling With Buffalo Bill which is a 1931 western cliffhanger starring Tom Tyler (Captain Marvel, The Phantom) and which looks to be action filled.
General Electric Television Theater-"The Incredible Jewell Robbery"-1959- this television show is famous for being the last appearance of the 3 Marx Bros together on film ( a later TV pilot was filmed but never broadcast). Starring mainly Harpo and Chico, with Grouch just doing a cameo, the film is basically done almost entirely in pantomime and generally works. Not a comedy classic but it was nice to finally see the complete episode of the boy's film farewell.
Gussle Rivals Jonah-1915-Keystone-2rls starred Charlie Chaplin's less famous (but still very talented) brother Syd in this typical knock-a-bout Keystone comedy from the period. Got its share of laughs from the bunch of us that night.
Blood and Steel-1925- was a railroad adventure movie starring Helen Holmes. Holmes was a very popular serial star in the teens and railroad centered films were a popular genre well into the 1930s. This rather low budget affair was made toward the end of Holmes' career and had too little action and not enough railroad stuff to be a crowd pleaser.
When Ambrose Dared Walrus-1915-Keystone-2 rls- was another slapstick Keystone entry starring Mack Swain and Chester Conklin as the title characters. Again no classic but it generated some laughs.
Nurse Wanted-1906-Biograph- was a very short comedy that seemed to have been filmed back east-possibly New Jersey. I always find it fascinating to watch some of these really old films especially when they show a lot of location shooting-often of places and times long gone. We noted the passing in the background of a small steamboat down a river during one sequence. There's something you don't see much now-a-days.
The Balloon Goes Up-1943 was another interesting slice of history this one being a bit of the WWII variety. The film is a musical-comedy starring the popular music hall and radio duo of Ethel Revnell and Gracie West who play a sort of Cockney Mutt and Jeff team (Ethel, at over six feet tall, is the Mutt to Gracie's much shorter Jeff). The two only made a few low budget (but quite successful) films together so it was nice to finally get to see one. The balloon's referred to here are barrage balloons. You can Google that to find out how important they were to the Brits in WWII.
Best
Joe
