Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Blog#3: Just Give It A Chance

Blog#3: Just Give It A Chance
 
You ever watch something and really like it, and you tell everyone how great it is and everyone blasts you for being wrong? Some movies and TV shows are bad and there is no arguing that, but there are instances where I think people and critics are just wrong. Here are some Movies and TV shows that were panned or cancelled because people just were not watching them.

- Despite the fact that Mel Gibson had a melt down and proved to the world that he may in fact be insane, he has done some great films and among those are the 'Lethal Weopen' franchise. It is one of my favorites with LW 1 and 2 being the best. But 3 and 4 tend to get dumped on as being bad movies but I still loved those films. Granted they were not as good as the first 2 but they were still great in their own ways. 3 was Rene Russo's big debut in mainstream films and she looked so hot in those tight jeans, her ass actually was speaking to me. And 4 was a great final film for the franchise and I loved the final fight with everyman Danny Glover & Mel Gibson fighting super ninja Jet Li. That final fight ranks in my top 10 of movie fight scenes.

- X-Men 1 and 2 are seen by most as being the best, but I actually liked 3 better than the first 2, even though almost everyone says that movie sucked. The first movie was the establishing film so I understand there was going to be more talk than action. 2 was X-Men versus the humans essentially. 3 was mutant versus mutant which I loved, with the exception of them killing off Professor X and Cyclops, that was dumb.I thought Ellen Page was excellent as Kitty Pride (Shadowcat), a character I love from the comic books. There is no doubt the film could have been better, but it was still a great film in my books. Also 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' was a great film too in my opinion even though it was shit on. I especially loved the final fight between Logan/Logan's brother fighting Deadpool, that was awesome although a little short. In fact the whole film was very short. But it wasn't terrible in my opinion, but definitely the weakest film of the franchise thus far. The next movie about Wolverine apparently will take place in Japan, from what I've heard and that will be very cool. Wolverine's Japanese stories are among his best. 
 
- In 2002 a new 'He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe' was launched and I was watching it. They used story and character elements from the original 80's Filmation series but updated it for a modern audience. They did a fantastic job and they created a series that could be enjoyed by both adults and children. It lasted 1 whole season and only half of a second season. I'm not sure why it was cancelled, poor ratings I would assume. The toys flew off the shelves in my area so I'm not thinking that was an issue. Apparently they had some great story arcs in place for the end of season 2 where the Snake Men story arc was to be concluded. Season 3 was to see the rise of Hordak and his Horde army and their take over of Eternia, with the season ending with Skeletor and He-Man teaming up to defeat their common foe, and Skeletor killing Hordak. Then the series was to conclude with season 4 going back to the 'Skeletor versus He-man' storyline. This is one of my favorite animated series of all time, definitely surpassing the original series. I hope one day they go back and finish this series, or perhaps finish it in comic book form. I had also heard plans for a new re-booted live action He-Man movie...
 
I know this is not He-Man, but his sister She-Ra.


- There are 3 comedies on TV I loved that never saw it past season 1. In 1999-2000 NBC had a comedy called 'Stark Raving Mad' starring Tony Schalhoub ('Monk', 'Wings') as a famous yet slightly crazy mad horror writer suffering from writers block named 'Stark', and Neil Patrick Harris as the straight man book editor forced to work with this lunatic by the publishing company because they want a new book asap. It ran for 22 episodes and I loved it. I watched every week then it just never got renewed...Had NBC foreseen both actors later success I think they would have kept it. Great funny show!! Also in 1995 the UPN network had 2 comedies I loved to watch every week but they too never got renewed for a second season: 'Pig Sty' about a bunch of dudes renting a large apartment with a very hot female super. 'Platypus Man' starring the late Richard Jenni in the title role about a guy who hosts a cooking TV series. Both shows were great fun to watch and it was a shame they got cancelled.

- The X-Files spin-off 'Lone Gunman' starring the guest stars of the X-Files who are nerd conspiracy theorists who are friends of Agent Mulder's. FOX gave theses Canadian dudes their own show as a mid-season series and it never made it past season 1. This was a great show and I watched every week. It made its debut in January 2001 and ironically the first episode featured a plot about a sinister group of Government agents hacking into a planes computer system to force the plane to crash into the World Trade Centre.... 9 months BEFORE 9/11!!!!!!!!!!! This was actually probably why their series got cancelled. During that point in American history it was not patriotic to question the Government in the wake of tragedy, and this series was mostly about Government and/or industry conspiracy's.

- Also 'Spider-man 3' may not have been as good as 1 or 2 but it was not that bad the they needed a reboot!! I wanted to see the further adventures of Tobey Maguire as Spider-man, not some young guy and Spider-man back in High School, I am very skeptical about this new movie that is coming...although Denis Leary as 'Captain Stacey' is brilliant casting in my opinion. Sam Raimi built a great franchise with the first 3 films and now none of that means anything anymore apparently.
 
And thats all for "Just Give It A Chance"
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*** This & That ***
 
- Just want to say Congrats to my 'little' sister Brianna and her husband Sebastian on the birth of my nephew Damien. I am a very happy and proud Uncle!
 
 
- We are a little behind sometimes in Canada when it comes to TV, but this last Sunday the final episode of 'Rescue Me' aired up here. I have followed this show since season 1, and although this series has had it's highs and lows I have stuck with it and I'm glad I did. This final episode was a perfect wrap up of the series, although it was a sad one as the story focus on the final episode is on the death of a main character, but it was a fitting end to this show. The last scene actually brought a tear to my eye and was a great connection to the first scene of the first episode... brilliant. I am going to miss this show, but I'm glad they ended in a great way and this final episode was one of the best I've ever seen. I hope Denis Leary & company develop another TV show.

-  I want to give a shout out to my favorite late night TV show, and that is 'Conan' on CTV here in Canada, TBS in the states. I have been a fan of Conan for a long time, but with his falling out with NBC and his move to 'basic cable' on TBS I feel he has reinvigorated himself. Having Andy Rictor by his side as his announcer/side kick is just awesome. They truly are the dynamic duo. 2 weeks ago they shot their show back in New York City and I was laughing my ass off each and every episode. The 'Mastrubating Bear', a recurring character on his former 'Late night With Conan O'Brien' show that was filmed in NYC even made a return appearence. Very fun fun stuff. Conan is my go-to-guy for late night TV.
 
- I'm spreading the word on yet another podcast which I have discovered and now enjoy. Now don't get me wrong The Atomic Geeks Podcast and Nerd Lunch Podcast are my weekly must-listen podcasts but I do have a long drive to work and I do try and put in as many miles as possible at the walking track, so I must listen to other podcasts on occasion. The podcast I m referring to is yet another podcast from the 'Smodcast' network and it is called 'I Sell Comics', and it is a podcast recorded in New Jersey at Kevin Smith's 'Secret Stash' comic book store. A podcast about comics recorded at an actual comic book store during business hours. A very fun concept and the hosts are fun. The guest stars of this show so far have been customers who join in on the conversation. I still have to go back and listen to the first 3 episodes, and I'm hoping that Kevin Smith will stop in. This show may be a companion piece to the upcoming AMC reality series being filmed there, and apparently the hosts of this podcast wil be on that too. Anyway this is a great listen and I reccomend it.
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Anywho that is all for now. See you in the future!!
 
-Chrisloc1701 
 

3 comments:

Jack Tyler said...

Chris! Welcome to the circus. I so feel you on this. I can't tell you how often I like some aspect of a show or book, and everybody immediately starts in with, "What are you talking about?" I don't let that bother me, because I make it a point to have better taste than the people I hang out with. Keep that in mind if you visit my sites at some time; it's the only thing that could possibly explain some of the hijinx you see on there!

You sure look happy with that baby! Enjoy him like crazy and build a close relationship with him, and you'll have something that's unlike anything else on earth. If you make it by the Hideout, check out the "End of the Rainbow" post; you'll see what I mean.

Anyway, nice work, and in the immortal words of our former governor, "I"ll be back!"

Anonymous said...

Speaking of great 80's revives, Cartoon network made a rework of Thundercats. its been brought up to date much like He-Man was and is really well done.
You should really watch it if you can

Anonymous said...

Chris, I enjoyed your "Random Thoughts" and now you are blogging. You have made me laugh and made me cry as well, you have such a way with words, this should be part of your career, people would pay money to read these.
Not to mention you are also a great human being.