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matt_zimmerAlso reviews for American Dad, the Family Guy 100th Episode Celebration and the mini-series Stephen King's the Langoliers.
The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror XVIII"
Decent Halloween show. The first segment was only okay but I really dug the Mr and Mrs. Smith parody and the Hell House Parody. Show altogether: ***1/2.
E.T. Go Home: This COULD have been a good parody of E.T. but they made a huge mistake in making the alien Kang. There was no good reason for Bart to trust or love him. Maybe that was the point but as a parody it fell flat for this reason. **1/2.
Mr. and Mrs. Simpson: Funny idea of both Marge and Homer being assassins. I loved seeing them blast up the house and trying to kill each other. Even though the segment was hardly a "horror story" (I think they may be running out scary things to parody) it only could have been done in a trilogy story since so many characters are killed and the Simpson home is demolished. ****.
Heck House: GOOD thing we got a critique on the despicable concept of Halloween Hell Houses but King of the Hill did one in early in the show's run that was much more accurate and frightening. This one only glossed over the nasty aspects of these disgusting horror shows before going out into full on parody mode. ***1/2.
The Family Guy 100th Episode Special
Decent clip show that was notable for having Seth MacFarlane actually interview people who hated the show. I found these people who found the show despicable fascinating because even though it's clear that SOME of them are wackos (like the guy who kept blinking) there were quite a few that were interviewed (like the quiet black man) who had legitimate gripes against the show and weren't portrayed badly at all on camera. I DO have to wonder what the point of interviewing these people was though. It didn't really pay off in the end.
Seth did a funny job hosting the show and making fun of other shows (although I LIKE Dharma and Greg!) and the clips were good. But it was absolutely unforgivable that they left out the clip of Stewie's verbal beatdown of Olivia for her lame Weakest Link joke. That isn't only Family Guy's funniest moment I think it's one of the funniest things seen on television EVER. ***1/2.
Family Guy "Stewie Kills Lois":
I liked the 100th episode a lot but I'll like it even more if they manage to NOT retcon it next week. Yes, I knew Lois wasn't really dead but I like the idea that the family spent a year believing she was. I also like the fact that she finally realized what a monster Stewie is. I personally think with the way the show works they COULD potentially have this episode and next week be in canon if they do it right. I'd hate to think they make such a great cliffhanger (parodying Star Trek: The Next Generation's Best of Both Worlds finale) and take the easy way out with a "it was all a dream" cop-out ending. ****.
American Dad "Big Trouble in Little Langley"
Good episode. I love that the show is still new enough that it can throw revelations at us like the idea that Fran was adopted by Japanese parents. Most sitcoms thinks a great twist revelation of a main character's parent involves them being played by Mary Tyler Moore or Robert Culp. This was actually creative and set up a great story of Stan wanting to meet his birth in-laws who turned out to be despicable. I'm adopted so I really loved the message of makes really makes someone family.
Steve firecracker subplot didn't really have that great of a pay-off although I DID like Roger learning he's fire retardant (and deciding to stay friends with Stan anyways) and shoving a bunch of towels up his butt. ****1/2.
Stephen King's The Langoliers
This mini-series about a Red-eye airline flight that goes horribly awry when people wake up to most of the people on the plane vanishing mid-air has two things going against it: bad cgi and Bronson "Balki" Pinchot overacting hammily. Pinchot's Craig Toomie is one of the most ridiculous villians I've seen in a King mini-series and that is saying something.
I have usually read the book the mini-series was based on but I never read Four Past Midnight or this novella. The miniseries is overlong but it is not without it's good points.
The good:
Patricia Wettig as the schoolteacher Laurel and David Morse as the pilot. They both turn in fine performances and are sympathetic throughout. I also liked the guy who play Nick.
Dean Stockwell as the writer Bob Jenkins. VERY cool character and SO obviously the kind of guy King excels at in being somebody who solves the mystery but perhaps keeps their cards a little too close to the vest.
The tension throughout the story keeps getting more and more intense as the Langoliers approach. There is a real sense of urgency and I kept screaming at my TV for the characters to hurry up and reboard the plane. REALLY creepy vibe in a world that has gone dead and all of the little things that aren't quite right with it.
The not so good:
The aforementioned Toomie is a chore to watch on screen. Pinchot doesn't do a very convincing bad guy. What is it with King Miniseries and their insistance on having mediocre sitcom actors play the heavy parts?
The Langoliers when they arrive are laughable. The CGI used to create them looks cheap beyond belief and this is even by the standards of ten years ago when this was made. The plane is also obvious CGI in places too. It's beyond distracting.
The Black guy dies first. 'Nuff said.
All in all a pretty good way to kill three hours but nowhere NEAR as good as the other movies in the Stephen King Collection, Golden Years and The Stand. ***.
The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror XVIII"
Decent Halloween show. The first segment was only okay but I really dug the Mr and Mrs. Smith parody and the Hell House Parody. Show altogether: ***1/2.
E.T. Go Home: This COULD have been a good parody of E.T. but they made a huge mistake in making the alien Kang. There was no good reason for Bart to trust or love him. Maybe that was the point but as a parody it fell flat for this reason. **1/2.
Mr. and Mrs. Simpson: Funny idea of both Marge and Homer being assassins. I loved seeing them blast up the house and trying to kill each other. Even though the segment was hardly a "horror story" (I think they may be running out scary things to parody) it only could have been done in a trilogy story since so many characters are killed and the Simpson home is demolished. ****.
Heck House: GOOD thing we got a critique on the despicable concept of Halloween Hell Houses but King of the Hill did one in early in the show's run that was much more accurate and frightening. This one only glossed over the nasty aspects of these disgusting horror shows before going out into full on parody mode. ***1/2.
The Family Guy 100th Episode Special
Decent clip show that was notable for having Seth MacFarlane actually interview people who hated the show. I found these people who found the show despicable fascinating because even though it's clear that SOME of them are wackos (like the guy who kept blinking) there were quite a few that were interviewed (like the quiet black man) who had legitimate gripes against the show and weren't portrayed badly at all on camera. I DO have to wonder what the point of interviewing these people was though. It didn't really pay off in the end.
Seth did a funny job hosting the show and making fun of other shows (although I LIKE Dharma and Greg!) and the clips were good. But it was absolutely unforgivable that they left out the clip of Stewie's verbal beatdown of Olivia for her lame Weakest Link joke. That isn't only Family Guy's funniest moment I think it's one of the funniest things seen on television EVER. ***1/2.
Family Guy "Stewie Kills Lois":
I liked the 100th episode a lot but I'll like it even more if they manage to NOT retcon it next week. Yes, I knew Lois wasn't really dead but I like the idea that the family spent a year believing she was. I also like the fact that she finally realized what a monster Stewie is. I personally think with the way the show works they COULD potentially have this episode and next week be in canon if they do it right. I'd hate to think they make such a great cliffhanger (parodying Star Trek: The Next Generation's Best of Both Worlds finale) and take the easy way out with a "it was all a dream" cop-out ending. ****.
American Dad "Big Trouble in Little Langley"
Good episode. I love that the show is still new enough that it can throw revelations at us like the idea that Fran was adopted by Japanese parents. Most sitcoms thinks a great twist revelation of a main character's parent involves them being played by Mary Tyler Moore or Robert Culp. This was actually creative and set up a great story of Stan wanting to meet his birth in-laws who turned out to be despicable. I'm adopted so I really loved the message of makes really makes someone family.
Steve firecracker subplot didn't really have that great of a pay-off although I DID like Roger learning he's fire retardant (and deciding to stay friends with Stan anyways) and shoving a bunch of towels up his butt. ****1/2.
Stephen King's The Langoliers
This mini-series about a Red-eye airline flight that goes horribly awry when people wake up to most of the people on the plane vanishing mid-air has two things going against it: bad cgi and Bronson "Balki" Pinchot overacting hammily. Pinchot's Craig Toomie is one of the most ridiculous villians I've seen in a King mini-series and that is saying something.
I have usually read the book the mini-series was based on but I never read Four Past Midnight or this novella. The miniseries is overlong but it is not without it's good points.
The good:
Patricia Wettig as the schoolteacher Laurel and David Morse as the pilot. They both turn in fine performances and are sympathetic throughout. I also liked the guy who play Nick.
Dean Stockwell as the writer Bob Jenkins. VERY cool character and SO obviously the kind of guy King excels at in being somebody who solves the mystery but perhaps keeps their cards a little too close to the vest.
The tension throughout the story keeps getting more and more intense as the Langoliers approach. There is a real sense of urgency and I kept screaming at my TV for the characters to hurry up and reboard the plane. REALLY creepy vibe in a world that has gone dead and all of the little things that aren't quite right with it.
The not so good:
The aforementioned Toomie is a chore to watch on screen. Pinchot doesn't do a very convincing bad guy. What is it with King Miniseries and their insistance on having mediocre sitcom actors play the heavy parts?
The Langoliers when they arrive are laughable. The CGI used to create them looks cheap beyond belief and this is even by the standards of ten years ago when this was made. The plane is also obvious CGI in places too. It's beyond distracting.
The Black guy dies first. 'Nuff said.
All in all a pretty good way to kill three hours but nowhere NEAR as good as the other movies in the Stephen King Collection, Golden Years and The Stand. ***.
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Date: 2007-11-07 08:35 pm (UTC)I think a denial ending would work nicely. If they HAD to pull a time travel ending like they did in the DTV I hope that at least Stewie remembers what happened. I don't want it COMPLETELY retconned. GL and Batman remembering at the end of Once and Future Thing was bad but it could have been a lot worse.