06.30 Worst Week
07.00 Crash
08.00 24
09.00 Planet Of The Apes
Worst Week. Episode 12. "The Article" A very funny episode that - for once - doesn't rely on anyone telling white lies to cover something up.
Sam walks in on an embarrasing situation, and ends up writing an article about it (which - we are told is very funny). However, although he has written it, he could never consider publishing it. Then the article goes missing. And winds up going from person to person in hilarious manner while Sam and Mel scramble to try and get it back.
There are several outstandingly funny moments here, and I especially love it when the show casts Sam and Mel as a team working against his (incredible) bad luck.
Crash. Episode 2. "The Doctor Is In" I'm trying to like these characters, honestly I am. But two episodes in and I honestly couldn't give a frak about any of them. It reminds me of those early episodes I watched of godawful Heroes. I frantically searched the screen for someone to care about, and failed.
The couple having the argument about the renovations on the house are very boring. I don't care about their problems (even if they are being played by two great actors). I think we need to see them outside of their relationship, to get some perspective and find a reason to care about them.
Dennis Hopper was even more awful in this episode than he was in the first one. His speech/rant was self-conscious and pointless.
And what was the business with that sex scene in the back of that car? Sure, the girl is crazy hot and all, but that has to be longest and most boring sex scene I have ever seen on film. Ever.
24. Season 7, Episode 3. "10AM - 11AM" Predictable but amazing.
The first half was predictable, as Jack took a captured Tony from the boat back to FBI HQ and started to interrogate him. Guess what? Tony is not a bad guy, after all. No great shock there, to be honest. I mean, he could have been the Big Bad for this season... if the writers were about to make a mess of it. And, after the crazy decisions made in Season Six, there was a slim chance that they would destroy the character of Tony and make him a villain. So, yeah, it could have happened...
But, it makes more sense for things to go down this way. And, thus, they are predictable.
I'm not complaining.
Because the second half was bad ass cool. Tony is broken out of FBI HQ by Jack, with Chloe in his ear giving him instructions. This is what 24 is all about. This is when 24 is the coolest thing going, and the very best action show on television.
Planet Of The Apes. "Conquest" Twenty years have passed, Caesar has grown up and lives in a totalitarian society rules by humans. But Caesar keeps his mouth shut (literally) and he quietly builds an army under the nose of the governor until everything erupts in an orgy of violence.
For the first time in the series, Roddy McDowall is the lead actor and he gives a powerhouse performance. Caesar is a different character to his father, but - of course - he is born into different times...
The recurring themes of the POTA series are more muted here. For several reasons. Caesar spends the whole story in hiding, so there is no opportunity for debate. Also, Breck is a dreadful one-note character (and it's a dreadful one-note performance from Don Murray) and he is not open to discussion. He's the first evil bad guy in the series. Consequently he's not interesting. This guy has no philosophy or beliefs. He just hates and fears the Apes and he wants Caesar found and killed. There is nothing to the character beyond that.
It's a short, fast-moving movie. The start is clumsy (we are never given a solid reason for Armando bringing Caesar to the city, a very stupid move) but the movie recovers and quickly recovers. It's no classic, but it's miles ahead of #2 and has great battle scenes and a suitably downbeat tone.
Hari Rhodes and Ricardo Montalban give great performances, but the movie belongs to Roddy McDowall. He fills Caesar with hatred, fire and passion and - by the end - he has become a mirror image of Breck.
Highlight? 24 (Jack & Tony in action, with Chloe giving directions)
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Wed, Jan 14, 09 - Worst Week, Crash, 24, Planet Of The Apes
