Laid to Rest (2009)

Laid to Rest (2009)

Directed by: Robert Hall
Screenplay by: Robert Hall

Genre: Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 90 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: Ugh. I picked up Laid to Rest last year when it was released for cheap, mainly because it looked cool (I may have read some decent reviews too, I don't recall). Anyway, I finally got around to watching it today and what a waste of 90 minutes this was. Unending clichés and awful acting (featuring even worse southern accents) are all par for the course in Laid to Rest. I can't tell you how many times the people being chased by "Chrome Skull" were in a car or in the clear, but somehow they managed to find themselves back in danger in no time. I will admit that I did find the last act 200% better than the rest of the film, but that really isn't saying much. Plus the main chick has a huge (albeit fake) rack, yet never really showed off the goods or wore anything provocative (save for a little home video footage at the end). What a waste. A word of advice for the future: pass on Laid to Rest.

Frozen (2010)

Frozen (2010)

Directed by: Adam Green
Screenplay by: Adam Green

Genre: Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 93 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

No one knows you're up there.

[IMDb]

Comments: I have to say, I really enjoyed Frozen. I picked the film up mainly because I enjoyed Adam Green's Hatchet and it was pretty cheap. I was rather intrigued as to how Green intended to spend 90 minutes with three characters on a ski lift, but the film is excellently plotted and there really was never a slow moment. I found the acting to be excellent as well, but it's probably not hard to fake being scared when the actors were actually sitting in a legit ski lift for the whole film (there was no CGI or sets used; that's a bad ass way to shoot a film like this). In the end, Frozen is a solid thriller and certainly worth the couple bucks I spent for it at Walmart.

Community - Season One (2009-2010)

Community (2009-????)

Created by: Dan Harmon

Season: One (2009-2010)
Genre: Comedy | Drama
Number of Episodes: 25
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: Holy shit, I love Alison Brie. She's cute as hell on the show, and just makes the funniest (and hottest) damn faces. Oh, and Community's pretty good too.

I have two gifs of great Little Annie Adderall (Brie) moments, but it was slowing the page down, so hit them up after the jump...

Scrubs - Season Seven (2007-2008)

Scrubs (2001-2010)

Created by: Bill Lawrence

Season: Seven (2007-2008)
Genre: Comedy | Drama
Number of Episodes: 11
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: OK, so I lied a bit. I was eagerly anticipating Season 1 of Community but the wonderful last scene of Season 6 between JD and Elliot made me come back to see what would happen between the two the following season (which wasn't much; also I'll admit that I wrote the review for Season 6 before I watched the finale...). Anyway, Season 7 of Scrubs was a step forward after last year's lackluster season, even though it's only a strike-shortened 11 episodes. There's much less silliness, which makes the show funnier and better. My only real complaint was the last episode ("My Princess") is aired completely out of order. If it's aired wrongly on TV that's one thing, especially with all of the craziness of the writer's strike. But on DVD? Come on! How hard is it to move the episode around? This time I won't lie, that shit's fucking annoying.

Scrubs - Season Six (2006-2007)

Scrubs (2001-2010)

Created by: Bill Lawrence

Season: Six (2006-2007)
Genre: Comedy | Drama
Number of Episodes: 22
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: It's been a few months since I've seen Season 5 of Scrubs, but I was itching to watch a sitcom whilst waiting for Season 1 of Community to arrive on my doorstep (which it did today, for the low price of $12.99 from Amazon - amazing!). Initially, this season of Scrubs is terrible. I couldn't believe I was watching the same show that I did a few months ago. Zach Braff's character was extremely annoying and so ungodly effeminate that it drove me insane (which was always part of JD, but now it was heightened to the Nth degree). Luckily, the second half of the season was much better as there was more drama infused back into the show, which is what always made Scrubs great. The comedy isn't always funny and the daydream scenes are a bit too ridiculous at times, but it's the "realer" moments that made the show what it is. I'm probably being a bit generous with the rating, but when you've watched a show for so long it's easy to give it slack from time to time. I have Seasons 7 and 8 as well, but it will probably be awhile until I watch them, as there's a ton of other stuff I want to get to. Hopefully Season 6 didn't signal the decline of the show, but I guess we'll find out.

Oh, and this was the funniest moment of the whole season. Hearing Jack say "Yeah, up yours Bobbo!" was the funniest damn thing.

Brooklyn's Finest (2009)

Brooklyn's Finest (2009)

Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Screenplay by: Michael C. Martin

Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 132 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Blu-ray

This is war. This is Brooklyn.

[IMDb]

Comments: I've really wanted to watch Brooklyn's Finest for a while now (I bought the DVD the week it came out), but I just never got around to it. I finally watched it last night at my Dad's house, and while not meeting all my expectations, it certainly was a solid film and Fuqua's second best (behind the great Training Day). The three main characters (Gere, Cheadle, and Hawke) share almost zero screen time together, but I felt the script was written well, and it did a fairly good job intertwining the stories and keeping me interested in each story. I wasn't the biggest fan of the end of the film, as Michael Martin went more for "unexpected chaos" rather than a satisfying, emotionally resounding resolution. I'm not dissing the chaos element, as it certainly works for other films, I just don't think it fit in quite right here. Still, Brooklyn's Finest is an engaging crime drama that's worth your two hours. Definitely recommended.

The Town (2010)

The Town (2010)

Directed by: Ben Affleck
Screenplay by: Peter Craig, Ben Affleck, and Aaron Stockard

Genre: Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 125 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

Welcome to the bank robbery capital of America.

[IMDb]

Comments: Ben Affleck has been the butt of many jokes over the years, mainly due to the fact that he has made some poor career choices (and that Matt Damon was the actual talented one of the two). I've never had a problem with the guy, mostly because I enjoyed him in the several Kevin Smith films he did. But Affleck set out to change the public perception a few years ago when he directed the excellent Gone Baby Gone, a film I really enjoyed. The Town is his second directorial effort, and as soon as I saw the trailer for The Town, I knew I'd be seeing it in theaters (Warner obviously didn't trust Affleck's reputation either, as they failed to mention his name when stating the film was "from the director of Gone Baby Gone"). The Town certainly didn't disappoint. While the film isn't perfect (the very end of the film is certainly clichéd), it is right up my alley in terms of the plot and entertainment value, hence the five-star rating. I was hooked for the entire two hours, as was the rest of the packed house (during a moment of silence toward the end of the film you could've heard a pin drop in the theater). At times, I was reminded of Michael Mann's crime classic Heat (which isn't a bad thing), and I would favorably compare the two. The Town is everything I want when I go to the theater, and I really couldn't have asked for more. Kudos, Ben.

The Office - Season Six (2009-2010)

The Office (2005-????)

Created by: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
Developed by: Greg Daniels

Season: Six (2009-2010)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Number of Episodes: 25
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Reams of laughs.

[IMDb]

Comments: A lot of people felt the sixth season of The Office took a step down, and I'm inclined to agree. There's a notable difference in the overall quality of the show compared to the previous seasons (mainly Seasons 2 through 5). Still, I was entertained by the show, so it wasn't a total loss.

The best episode of the season (by far) was the two-part "Niagra," where Jim and Pam get married. It successfully balanced humor while making the show memorable and touching; I especially loved the wedding scene that spoofed this YouTube sensation). It was one of those great Office moments. The other two-parter, "The Delivery," was solid as it showcased the birth of Jim and Pam's child (and had some great moments between the two), but like the entire season, it lacked that special energy.

I also enjoyed the addition of Erin as the new secretary, and her and Andy's budding (yet strange) relationship. Ellie Kemper, who plays Erin, is cute as hell and makes the audience love her despite her lack of intelligence and the fact that she gets a little... crazy at times.

But overall, the series simply lacks the spark the show previously had. Jim and Pam are no longer the driving force of show (which would be hard to accomplish since they're married and have a kid now), and it's apparent. While I like Andy and Erin, there's no way in hell they could ever take Jim and Pam's place. And it's hard to consistently find new and fresh storylines. The season finale was terrible as a final episode, and hardly enticed me to come back for the new season (which I will anyway). Like I've said before, Season 7 should definitely be the last for the show, but the cast (sans Carell) is signed through at least Season 8. Who knows, maybe I'll be surprised by the quality this year (Holly and Jan are coming back, and Timothy Olyphant is guest starring as a rival salesman that used to date Pam). It's a possibility.

Chuck - Season Three (2009-2010)

Chuck (2007-????)

Created by: Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak

Season: Three (2009-2010)
Genre: Comedy | Action | Drama
Number of Episodes: 19
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

No more Mr. Nice Spy.

[IMDb]

Comments: This review contains spoilers from Season 3. If you plan on watching Chuck soon or in the future, look elsewhere (unless you don't care about that sort of thing).

So the third season of Chuck divided a lot of fans, mainly for two reasons. The first was that Chuck and Sarah, after two years of the will-they/won't-they drama, were essentially split up and given separate love interests. Kristin Kreuk (of Smallville fame) had a four-episode arc where she worked at the Buy More, and had about one episode's worth of romance with the Chuckster. On the other hand, Brandon Routh (of Superman Returns) played a large role in the third season as he transferred into Team Bartowski, teaching Chuck how to be a spy while seducing Sarah at the same time. They had much more of a developed relationship (albeit offscreen), and that really annoyed a lot of loyal Chuck fans.

The second reason was the darker tone that Season 3 took on. There wasn't as much humor in the episodes, and there was constant worries over Chuck being able to kill someone. The Buy More wasn't used as often as before, and there weren't as many high jinks occurring as fans were used to. So what did I think?

I loved Season 3. Granted, it's not quite as good as its predecessor (Season 2 was my favorite singular television season I've seen in years), but I think Chuck was given a lot of unnecessary grief. While I prefer Chuck and Sarah to not see other people also, I liked the inclusion of Routh (it didn't hurt that I loved Superman Returns and generally like the guy). Right after I finished the second season, I accidentally read a headline on IMDb's message board stating that Season 3 sucked because Sarah cheated on Chuck. I was heartbroken after that, because they did such a great job building the romance between the two. But that person was generally incorrect, because both had their own separate relationships, and Sarah was never "cheating" on Chuck. The two finally did get together toward the end of the season, and while the initial spark from Season 2 isn't there, it's still extremely satisfying.

The interesting thing about Season 3 of Chuck was that it was initially green-lit for 13 episodes, but 6 more were tagged on later. So the first 13 episodes played out as one cohesive season, and end on what feels like a season finale with "Chuck Versus the Other Guy" (I actually thought that episode would have made a great series finale, but I'll never complain about more Chuck). The remaining six episodes then feel a bit like a different season, but they do reincorporate storylines eventually to reconnect the episodes. I enjoyed the added six episodes, but I guess I'm one of the few that thought the first 13 episodes of Season 3 were... awesome.

The main thing I didn't like in the season was the inclusion of Morgan to Team Bartowski. I'm all for him knowing the secret and helping out occasionally, but it only stretches an already incredibly thin premise that they would add some random guy to a C.I.A. team simply because he's Chuck's friend and Casey has a soft spot for him. I don't know, it just kind of annoys me. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the intersect all of a sudden "crushing" Chuck's brain, and that some magic watch fixed it, but I can live with it.

Anyway, I was a really big fan of Season 3 of Chuck. It's a fun show that's always entertaining, even when there's a more serious nature to it. As I've said a few times before, I expect Season 4 to be the last just because it was barely saved for Season 3, and then super-barely saved for Season 4. It's a great show that I'd love to see continue for years, but at the same time it's hard to keep a show with a specific premise like this consistently fresh. Here's hoping to a Season 5, and that if the show does go out, it goes out with style. Chuck style.

Random Thoughts: Summer Lovin' and Onward

While I should probably wait a few more weeks to make this post, I was thinking about it in my head last night, and felt the need to discuss the few shows that I watched over the summer and what I'm planning on watching once the 2010-2011 season starts.

What I've watched this summer (ordered by the days of the week):

- The Hard Times of RJ Berger: I'm pretty sure this is one of the first scripted shows that I've watched on MTV (I can't forget about Beavis and Butt-Head). And it's surprisingly funny. There's not much in terms of originality or anything that makes the show stand out, but there's several un-PC jokes that usually make me chuckle. Oh, and Amber Lancaster is fucking gorgeous. I don't give a shit that she's 30 and playing a high school student. I just appreciate the fact that the producers try and get her in lingerie (or less) around once a show. I think I'd give the show around a 3 / 5.

- White Collar: OK, so I didn't watch this show over the summer. I just watched Season One on DVD over the weekend, and I spent pretty much all of Labor Day watching the eight White Collar episodes from the summer (that I DVR'd from a marathon on Friday). Like the first season, this is a fun show that I really enjoy. The "summer finale" is tonight, and the show will return in January with a seven-episode run to conclude the season. Definitely still a 4 / 5 for me.

- The IT Crowd: I've really enjoyed the show throughout the first three seasons. IFC started to air the newest season a few weeks ago, and I can't say I'm the biggest fan of it. The bizarreness of the show has risen tenfold. It certainly has some funny moments, but the overall episodes just lack the cohesiveness that the earlier episodes had. I still have half of the season to go (3 more episodes, haha), so I'm withholding my rating until later.

- Louie: I love Louis C.K.'s stand-up. I generally enjoyed his short-lived HBO series Lucky Louie. Louie pretty much combines both of those, in a way, as Louis blends stand up with short segments about his life. At times the skits are funny, sometimes they're serious, and they're almost always extremely self-loathing. Sure, the segments fall flat from time to time, but I really like Louis C.K.'s style. There's a two-part finale tonight as well, and I would give the show a 4 / 5 so far.

- The Glades: Despite bringing absolutely nothing new to the table, I really enjoyed A&E's The Glades. The show follows a cocky detective re-assigned to Florida. He comes off as arrogant, but of course he has a heart of gold. Oh, and he's almost always right (what a shock!). Still, it's perfect summer entertainment providing some fun characters with a hint of romance. There's still four or so episodes to go, but I'd give the show around a 3.5 / 5 (but I'd probably bump it up to a 4 due to some personal bias if the show closes out strong).

There's a few other shows I'd like to get into watching (Mad Men, True Blood, and Leverage to name a few) but I haven't seen any of the seasons so far, so I'm not going to start now.

So what's on the agenda for the fall? This year's a bit different, as a couple shows I watched religiously are gone (24, Lost), but two other shows are stepping in because I've caught them on DVD and loved them (Chuck, The Office). I always record more shows than I watch, and I usually end up liking shows the that get canceled. Monday is a busy day, and my DVR will be going nonstop that night. Without further adieu...

- House, M.D.: While the show's definitely lost some steam, I still enjoy spending an hour a week with Dr. House. Now that 24 and Lost are done, this is the longest running show that I've watched exclusively on TV. House and Cuddy are going to be a couple now, but I really think they waited way too long to do this story. I was interested in this five seasons ago; it's kind of lost a lot of the spark it originally had. From a few previews, it looks like there may be something going on between Chase and 13, which I think will be decent (although I still miss Cameron). I don't expect too much from the show anymore, but it's always good for an hour of escapism.

- Chuck: Even though it says I'm currently watching Season Three in the post above this, it still hasn't arrived yet (hence why I'm writing this now; hurry up UPS! [EDIT: it arrived finally at 7:30 at night]). I really love this show, and will definitely be tuning in for what I think will be the show's final season.

- Lone Star: This looks like a great drama. I've heard a ton of praise about this show, and Entertainment Weekly said it was the best new pilot of 2010. It may have been descrbed as a little "soap opera-esque," but I think it was meant in a good way.

- The Event: This show's had the best marketing for any new show of the season, and they're clearly aiming for the Lost crowd that needs a new show to turn to (even though it's much more of an action show, according the show's producers). Looks promising.

- Terriers: This show looks promising as well. It was created by one of the guys that wrote Ocean's Eleven and produced by the guy that made The Shield. I enjoy Donal Logue as an actor (he was very solid on the second season of Life), and this looks like something that would be up my alley. FX usually doesn't disappoint either.

- The Office: Season Six will be arriving along with Chuck sometime this afternoon. I really enjoy this show, and am looking forward to watching Steve Carell's last season. I know there will at least be a Season Eight as well, so I guess we'll see then if the show jumps the shark like I think it might.

- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Nothing needs to be said.

And at the end of October...

- The Walking Dead: FUCK. YES. A weekly show about zombies?!?! Do I need to say more? How about that it's adapted and written and directed by Frank Darabont, who's done a few films like The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Mist. It's going to be awesome.

So that's that. The only other show I'm mildly considering is Hawaii 5-0, but I really don't know if I'm going to add another show to the Monday schedule (the first four are all on Monday). Of course, there's a wealth of other shows that are on that I'll be watching on DVD once I get caught up on the seasons as well, including (but not limited to) Fringe, Smallville, Supernatural, and Gossip Girl (yes, it's a great guilty pleasure). What else can I say? I love television.

White Collar - Season One (2009-2010)

White Collar (2009-????)

Created by: Jeff Eastin

Season: One (2009-2010)
Genre: Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery
Number of Episodes: 14
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Let the games begin.

[IMDb]

Comments: I'd heard a number of good things about White Collar before, but just never got around to watching the show. My curiosity was piqued, however, after watching Matt Bomer on Chuck, who did a great job as Bryce Larkin. He has a natural charisma and swagger, thus making White Collar a show I wanted to watch. And I really enjoyed it for the most part. My biggest complaint is that things happen too easily on the show. Neil Caffrey (Bomer) is released from prison and given a job in the FBI so easily. He's given a tremendous amount of leeway for a notorious con man, and if he stretches his limits he's generally given a pass as if he'd worked for the Bureau for 20 years. But in terms of "light" entertainment, you really can't go wrong. Watching Caffrey's ability to maneuver himself in an out of every situation imaginable is fun as hell. Watching the first season coincided with a White Collar marathon last Friday (which I DVR'd), so I'll be able to catch up on Season 2 (sadly, this week's episode is the last until January... blah). Anyway, White Collar is a fun show as long as you turn your brain off. It's a welcome distraction and generally a good way to spend an hour.

The American (2010)

The American (2010)

Directed by: Anton Corbijn
Screenplay by: Rowan Joffe

Genre: Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 103 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

[IMDb]

Comments: Awesome. A beautifully shot, slowly-built, and wonderfully acted film. I wasn't sure if The American was going to meet my expectations, but it certainly did. One of the best of the year.

The Office - Season Five (2008-2009)

The Office (2005-????)

Created by: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
Developed by: Greg Daniels

Season: Five (2008-2009)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Number of Episodes: 26
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Reams of laughs.

[IMDb]

Comments: Season Five of The Office gave us yet another strong set of episodes. I was ready to give the show four-and-a-half stars, but I really wasn't all that crazy about the Michael Scott Paper Company plot. And Jim and Pam, while still being awesome, tend to lose some of their heat now that they're fully together. Let's delve a little further...

The major plot of the second half of the season was Michael Scott quitting and starting his own company (and Pam, of all people, followed him... which didn't make all that much sense to me). Reading some comments about the episodes, I guess a lot of people really liked the divergence, as it added a new dimension to the show. I didn't really, because everyone and their brother knew that Pam and Michael were going to end up working for Dunder Mifflin again, so what did the whole thing accomplish (other than Pam getting a promotion to sales)? And it also split up Pam and Michael from the core of The Office, which is the main source of humor and entertainment for the show. I will give the writers this, though: the episode where the company is bought out ("Broke") is amazing. It's always great to see Michael succeed, and boy did he kick ass that episode. But in the end what did it all accomplish? Everything pretty went much back to normal after that.

Pam and Jim finally get engaged in the opener of the season. I really love the show for the fact that they don't keep finding ways to keep them apart (thus creating a will-they or won't-they aspect that stretches on forever). They're really like a normal (albeit mostly perfect) couple that everyone envies. The scene where Jim talks to Roy in the bar about the two being engaged was awesome, and I've watched it probably ten times now (even though Roy was never really a bad guy, it's nice to see Jim get his). Also, Jim's reaction to Pam's pregnancy in the finale is one of the great things I've seen on the show. The subtle hint of tears and quiver in his voice was absolute perfection. Beyond those moments though, the story has taken mostly a backseat and has lost some of its original spark. But that's expected, and I wouldn't change anything about how the writers have handled their relationship (other than giving the two more screen time from time to time).

Lastly, I really hated Andy in the third season. He was awful and annoying every time he was on screen. He got better in the fourth season, and was great in the fifth. There's finally a niche carved out for his character, and Andy is finally likable. The duel over Angela with Dwight followed by their eventual friendship was great.

What else can I say? The Office is a terrific show. I don't think I'd ever consider it superior to the original, but I really do love it. It's not perfect by any means, but there's a lot to admire about it. While there's only one David Brent, Steve Carell has created his own separate character from one that started out as a carbon copy of Ricky Gervais. Sure, he's buffoonish at times, but he's become a nice guy that you really want to succeed. Carell's leaving at the end of this season, and the showrunners are actively looking for a new boss. I kind of wish the show would end. I haven't seen Season Six yet (that will be next week, after I get through the third season of Chuck), but where else can the show go? However, NBC doesn't want to let go of one of their few solidly followed shows. Maybe I'll be surprised, and a new boss will revitalize the show. Anyway, The Office is a great show. You should watch it if you haven't already.

The Office - Season Two (2002)

The Office (2001-2003)

Created by: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant

Season: Two (2002)
Genre: Comedy | Drama
Number of Episodes: 6
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: Original review: Throughout all of my years, all of the awesome films, marvelous television shows, and wonderful trash I have watched, there is nothing to me greater than the original Office. There is no film or television series that has made me both laugh and cry like a little baby like this one has. From the epic performance by Ricky Gervais as David Brent to the amazingly told love saga of Tim and Dawn, this show is absolute perfection to me. I own the three seasons of the new Office with Steve Carell, but have not been able to watch it. I saw the first ten minutes when it premiered and turned it off; it was too similar to the original. I have read many reviews stating it found its footing in the second season, so one day I will have to visit the new Office. Until then, I have Tim, Dawn, David, and even Gareth to keep me company. Absolute perfection.

Updated thoughts: Don't get me wrong, the original Office is my favorite show of all time. But I really didn't realize how much I enjoyed the new Office, and how much it has grown on me. It really is a great show as well, and upon revisiting the show I probably will rate it higher (I still think there's a few too many episodes a season though). And finally, no matter how obsessed I was with Tim and Dawn (and how many times I watched their penultimate scene), I did find myself missing a little bit of the absolute chemistry and wonderfulness that is Jim and Pam. That's one thing I never thought I'd say.

The Office - Season One (2001)

The Office (2001-2003)

Created by: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant

Season: One (2001)
Genre: Comedy | Drama
Number of Episodes: 6
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: Original review: Throughout all of my years, all of the awesome films, marvelous television shows, and wonderful trash I have watched, there is nothing to me greater than the original Office. There is no film or television series that has made me both laugh and cry like a little baby like this one has. From the epic performance by Ricky Gervais as David Brent to the amazingly told love saga of Tim and Dawn, this show is absolute perfection to me. I own the three seasons of the new Office with Steve Carell, but have not been able to watch it. I saw the first ten minutes when it premiered and turned it off; it was too similar to the original. I have read many reviews stating it found its footing in the second season, so one day I will have to visit the new Office. Until then, I have Tim, Dawn, David, and even Gareth to keep me company. Absolute perfection.

Updated thoughts: Don't get me wrong, the original Office is my favorite show of all time. But I really didn't realize how much I enjoyed the new Office, and how much it has grown on me. It really is a great show as well, and upon revisiting the show I probably will rate it higher (I still think there's a few too many episodes a season though). And finally, no matter how obsessed I was with Tim and Dawn (and how many times I watched their penultimate scene), I did find myself missing a little bit of the absolute chemistry and wonderfulness that is Jim and Pam. That's one thing I never thought I'd say.

Piranha 3D (2010)

Piranha 3D (2010)

Directed by: Alexandre Aja
Screenplay by: Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg

Genre: Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 88 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

There's something in the water.

[IMDb]

Comments: Alexandre Aja was a horror director on the rise. After his very highly-praised High Tension, Aja directed the very solid Hills Have Eyes remake. But after the disappointing and very mediocre Mirrors, Aja decided on another remake, this time of Joe Dante's Piranha. The film's been received well, and I was looking forward to it. But it turns out I wasn't that impressed. Sure, there's a lot of violence and nudity (which is always a plus!), but it just felt like Aja was trying too hard to make it a B movie. There were a few awesome moments (Ving Rhames taking the propeller/motor off of a boat and using it as a weapon against the piranha), but there were so many goofy moments as well (the entire end of the film made me dumber). There's a surprising amount of recognizable people in the film, but the acting's awful for the most part (which the plethora of B movie dialogue didn't help). Piranha is a fun movie and I enjoyed myself, but Aja tries way too hard to make a cult classic out of a mostly Hollywood-esque film. Better luck next time, Alexandre (which will be next year, for Piranha 2).

The Office - Season Four (2007-2008)

The Office (2005-????)

Created by: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
Developed by: Greg Daniels

Season: Four (2007-2008)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Number of Episodes: 14
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Reams of laughs.

[IMDb]

Comments: Well, I waited too long to order Season Five of The Office, so now I have to wait until at least Monday (gah!) to dive into the next chapter. I really enjoyed the fourth season of the show, and I think this may be the strongest season yet. This is due to two factors: less episodes and all of that wonderful Jim and Pam interaction.

While sometimes I wish British shows ran longer than six episodes a season, that format worked extremely well for the original Office. On the other side of things, US shows can run for too many episodes if they're popular, which I think hurt the second and third seasons of The Office to a degree. Each episode certainly had its merits, but often a tighter arc tends to work better. Anyway, Season 4 only had 14 episodes (due to the strike, although five of those were hour-long episodes), and the season felt a lot... smoother. But Seasons Five and Six each have 25+ episodes, so I guess we'll see how that goes.

And then Season Four was the one where Jim and Pam finally started dating. Even if they didn't date, I loved that they were given more screentime, because the two have such a great chemistry together (and like the original, they are the backbone of the series). I guess it would risk over-exposing the two, but I can never have enough of Jim standing at the desk talking to Pam. My two favorite moments of this season revolved around those two. The first was Jim talking with Dwight in the stairwell when Dwight's heartbroken, and then going and kissing Pam when he's thought about how he left because of her before (that was one of the great and defining moments of the show), and then the banter the two had about Jim proposing followed by Jim confessing to the camera that he bought the ring for her the week after they started dating. It was a fucking great moment.

So now I will wait. Season Five will be here next week and Season Six the week after (I preordered it yesterday with the third season of Chuck, I couldn't help it). Until then, I think I will revisit an old fave...

The Office - Season Three (2006-2007)

The Office (2005-????)

Created by: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
Developed by: Greg Daniels

Season: Three (2006-2007)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Number of Episodes: 23
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Reams of laughs.

[IMDb]

Comments: Wow, I have just been plowing through these episodes. I guess that's what happens when you have too much free time/no life. Anyway, Season Three was another strong showing. I realize that a lot of people watch the show because of Dwight and Michael, as so often the episodes are based around them, but I really wish the show had some more of Jim and Pam. I like the slow build of the relationship, but each episode I was always more concerned with how they were going to interact moreso than whatever party Michael was throwing. And then some episodes they didn't even really show their great chemistry at all? I couldn't imagine watching this show on a week-by-week basis because it would get so frustrating waiting for that moment.

I'd like to add that I really liked the character of Ryan (B.J. Novak) a lot more. At first I wondered why Novak was even in the main credits, considering he gets as little screen time as the rest of the secondary characters (I always assumed it's because he's a producer/writer on the show, which means he gets to be in the main credits). But he really was funny as hell this season (in his limited screen time). While I still don't know why he gets to be in the main credits, he definitely stands out as the best of the rest in The Office. And I like Ed Helms, but holy shit his character is annoying. I was excited that he was sent away for "anger management" but I always knew he'd be back, considering he's on the covers of the upcoming DVDs and those somewhat annoying TBS commercials.

Anyway, time to slam through Season Four and hope that my order of Season Five gets here on Saturday-ish.

The Office - Season Two (2005-2006)

The Office (2005-????)

Created by: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
Developed by: Greg Daniels

Season: Two (2005-2006)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Number of Episodes: 22
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Reams of laughs.

[IMDb]

Comments: The Office had a strong second season, and I became more engrossed in the show (as I predicted I would). Sure, there's still some jokes here and there ported over from the original, and every once in a while Michael says or does something exactly like David Brent making me wish I was watching the original instead, but overall I must say that I'm a fan of the Americanized Office.

One of the things I do like is how the show humanizes Michael Scott earlier on. In the original Office, Ricky Gervais is mostly an ass and comic relief until the end of the show, when he (spoiler alert!) begs for his job, and then when he tells Finch (the UK equivalent of Todd Packer) to go fuck himself (end spoilers). That approach works for that show, but with 20+ episodes a season, Steve Carell really needed to be endeared to the American audience so they could truly care about the character, which Greg Daniels did. And I like that, because he's still a buffoon, but you realize there's a decent guy under the facade.

Obviously, my favorite part was the whole Pam-Jim romance, but I wish they had gotten some more screen time. As funny as parts of the show are (when Jim explains that he filled Dwight’s headset with nickels until Dwight became used to the weight, then removed them all so he hit himself in the head, I died laughing), the best parts are always the looks and glances the two give each other. I loved that in the original as well, as Tim and Dawn would always glance at each other or casually touch each other. It was wonderful.

Anyway, I'm on to Season Three. I just ordered Season Five on Amazon so I have quite a few more episodes to go. I'm debating on whether I should throw down the cash to get Season Six as well so I can watch the new episodes this fall, but as I said before I hate paying that much for DVDs (especially since I'm definitely buying Season Three of Chuck -- less that two weeks now). Also, that season got very mixed reviews too. I guess it will depend on how I feel after finishing up Season Five. Until then.

The Office - Season One (2005)

The Office (2005-????)

Created by: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
Developed by: Greg Daniels

Season: One (2005)
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Number of Episodes: 6
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Reams of laughs.

[IMDb]

Comments: I have put off watching the Americanized version of The Office for five years now. As if I hadn't made it clear before, the original Ricky Gervais Office is my favorite thing ever. Ever. I have attempted to watch the Steve Carrell version a few times before, but the similarity in the first few episodes always drove me away. No matter how many times I've read that the show finds itself in the second season, and how many times I've been told the show is hysterical, I could never get into it. Until now.

Let's be honest. For fans of the original, the first two episodes are awful. They're basically the exact same show with virtually no discernible difference from the Gervais version. Luckily, episodes three through six were hysterical! I knew that once I let myself watch the show I'd be a fan, but I never knew it would be so soon. Sure there's still several similarities to the original, but The Office certainly starts to become it's own show in the second half of Season One (read: it doesn't import joke after joke without changing anything).

So now I'm starting to get hooked. I'm about to chuck in the first disc of Season Two shortly, and I'm very excited. After riding the emotional roller coaster last week with Chuck (I've been re-watching several episodes from Season Two because they're so fucking awesome, which is why I've haven't been watching much else), I think I'm ready to hop back on with Jim and Pam. Don't worry though, because Tim (with his Fisher Price-like cartoon face and hair) and Dawn will always be number one in my heart.