Shadow-2000 Reviews

Independence Day (1996)

The Finest Summer Blockbuster

[13 September 2001]

I have always been a fan of science fiction premises, especially when they translated into major movies. So, when I first heard of ID4 Independence Day I couldn't believe I would ever get the chance to see such an unimaginable story. It was something totally even though it was based on the old disaster motion pictures of the seventies.

This movie already impresses the entire audience only through its visual effects. The earliest visual shots are already breathtaking. I couldn't believe I would ever see images of mass destruction so perfectly rendered.

Although back in 1996 these particular scenes impressed me beyond anything I've ever seen before, not even those scenes can possibly be compared to the terribly unfortunate and horrendous tragedy that has recently struck the World Trade Center.

Writers Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich have created characters I've become very fond of and wrote an incredible story. Director Roland Emmerich really captured the spirit of those old disaster movies and did it with an amazing talent, backed up by a majestic score composed by David Arnold.

Emmerich selected very talented names for the roles like Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park), Bill Pullman (Casper), Judd Hirsch (Taxi) and also well known names like Harry Connick Jr. and Randy Quaid.

I've recently bought this masterpiece on DVD. It surprised me more than any other DVD I've ever bought, given the added special features as well as the Theatrical Version and the Special Edition. It was a blessing to see this movie.

Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006)

Innovation on Television Sitcoms

[6 June 2001]

I first heard about Malcolm in the Middle early in 2000. It was referred to as the Simpsons in flesh and bone. But I decided not to watch it.

Back then I was extremely disappointed by television comedies like Friends (when that show was going through a disappointing season). It seemed that writers and producers had run out of ideas to spark laughs among the audiences. I saw a preview of Malcolm's pilot episode. It didn't seem promising.

Months later Malcolm was nominated for several Emmy Awards, including best writing on a comedy series and favorite actress on a comedy series (Malcolm's mother). I was impressed by the show's acceptance and decided to give it a try.

It was worth it. I started watching the show late into the first season. I quickly learned all the details and now I've been watching an even better second season now that the show has a newly found confidence in its abilities to entertain viewers. While this is definetely not the Simpsons and can't possibly match up to their standards, Malcolm comes dangerously close to both the Simpsons and Futurama.

Linwood Boomer is a brilliant writer and producer. The staff of Malcolm in the Middle has managed to revive the sitcom genre through its sharp writing coupled with a terrific cast and the complete absence of the backstage laughter that has become increasingly annoying.

Frankie Muniz is a terrific actor and portrays Malcolm in a hilarious way. His mother is equally hilarious as a psychotic character. Their dysfunctional family represents the essence of the phrase "Life is not Fair" we hear at the presentation.

Frnakly, this show is simply too hilarious while avoiding any stereotypes. I wish other shows would follow this example. I hope Malcolm in the Middle lasts for a long time!

Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006)

Innovation on Television Sitcoms

[6 June 2001]

I first heard about Malcolm in the Middle early in 2000. It was referred to as the Simpsons in flesh and bone. But I decided not to watch it.

Back then I was extremely disappointed by television comedies like Friends (when that show was going through a disappointing season). It seemed that writers and producers had run out of ideas to spark laughs among the audiences. I saw a preview of Malcolm's pilot episode. It didn't seem promising.

Months later Malcolm was nominated for several Emmy Awards, including best writing on a comedy series and favorite actress on a comedy series (Malcolm's mother). I was impressed by the show's acceptance and decided to give it a try.

It was worth it. I started watching the show late into the first season. I quickly learned all the details and now I've been watching an even better second season now that the show has a newly found confidence in its abilities to entertain viewers. While this is definetely not the Simpsons and can't possibly match up to their standards, Malcolm comes dangerously close to both the Simpsons and Futurama.

Linwood Boomer is a brilliant writer and producer. The staff of Malcolm in the Middle has managed to revive the sitcom genre through its sharp writing coupled with a terrific cast and the complete absence of the backstage laughter that has become increasingly annoying.

Frankie Muniz is a terrific actor and portrays Malcolm in a hilarious way. His mother is equally hilarious as psychotic character. Their dysfunctional family represents the essence of the phrase "Life is not Fair" we hear at the presentation.

Frnakly, this show is simply too hilarious while avoiding any stereotypes. I wish other shows would follow this example. I hope Malcolm in the Middle lasts for a long time!

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000 Video Game)

The Classic series with a new twist!

[26 May 2001]

The Legend of Zelda has become a classic to every gamer in the world, especially to me. The original Nintendo game caused a major revolution on gameplay back in 1987 and never truly grew old. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link also provided some terrific moments despite being the worst chapter in the series. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past delivered the finest hours of gameplay ever seen, beating every other Zelda game. I never played the Game Boy games despite the positive reviews I've heard about Link's Awakening, Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. Zelda entered the 3D universe through the N64, delivering the classic in its most realistic inception, achieving perfection. Ocarina of Time was an unforgettable game that I still enjoy playing.

Now Majora's Mask has joined the Zelda series providing extra hours of fun. While this game follows the time period of Ocarina of Time (as well as that game's engine), Majora's Mask is actually different from any other Zelda game I've ever played.

At first, I was disappointed by Majora's Mask, but then I saw the beauty of this masterpiece. The story becomes more personal than the previous games. While the previous Zelda adventures dealt with Ganon, Princess Zelda, the Triforce and Hyrule's destiny, Majora's Mask strays from the common path and delivers a fresh new insight into the Zelda universe, proving that the story of the series isn't entirely dependent on the Zelda/Ganon/Triforce legend.

Technologically this game is a brilliant achievement! It builds on the previous game's engine. Graphics are definetely enhanced as well as some of the sounds. I was overjoyed to hear the traditional Zelda theme music which had disappeared in Ocarina of Time. This game makes good use of the Expansion Pak required to play it by reducing frame rate and adding depth to the 3D landscape. I was worried this game might disappoint me in that department. It has been five years since the N64 entered our houses. With the presence of both the Dreamcast and the Playstation 2 as well as future PC releases, Nintendo can't rely on the N64 much longer. It's reaching old age already just like the Super Nintendo had back in 1995. It's time to move on. Since this is the final Zelda produced for the N64 we'll have to wait a few more years for Nintendo's next release on the next platformer.

This game truly showed some new details previously unseen in Zelda games. This is the first Zelda with a time constraint. You have 3 days to save the world of Termina from a falling moon. You have to perform a lot of tasks within this time period and periodically go back in time using the ocarina. Collecting masks has become the prime motivator of the game's storyline. This game also features an unusually large number of pieces of heart Link is supposed to collect as compared to previous games. Playing Majora's Mask gives a different feeling compared to the other games and can be just as addictive as the others are.

This game can provide highly entertaining and challenging hours. Nintendo deserves an award for their incredible work on these games. They maintain a high level of quality unparallelled in the gaming industry!

Once and Again (1999–2002)

Brilliant High Quality Television!

[6 April 2001]

Once and Again has struck me unlike any other show ever! I never expected to accept a new show so quickly, but once I saw it I quickly caught up with the rest of the first season.

When I saw the names of Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick in the show I knew I was about to watch a high quality TV show! They produced both Thirtysomething and My So-Called Life. These previous shows were unlike anything I've ever seen before on television and Once and Again broke new barriers.

This show takes us in a tremendous psychological journey through the lives and minds of members of two different families in ways so natural and simple that the characters displayed almost seem real.

The actors and actresses that portray these unforgettable characters are by all means the finest in the business. However, no actor or actress has amazed me as much as Evan Rachel Wood. Not only she portrays an amazingly normal character like Jessie, but has managed to show us a character with this eating disorder so sincerely in a way no other young actor/actress could ever have done it. She's with no doubt the finest young actress of her generation.

My favorite episode was the one Rick and Karen take Jessie to see a therapist played by Edward Zwick himself who also wrote and directed this episode. I'm a huge fan of this producer and I was amazed by his role interacting with a character he created himself along with Marshall Herskovitz who also co-wrote the episode. The dynamic and level of emotion displayed in the episode was unparalled in any family show. Even Party of Five's highest dramatic moments could never match such a quiet yet intense moment such as Jessie admitting she's disgusted by eating.

Sela Ward herself deserved her emmy, but there are supporting cast members in the show such as Marin Hinkle. But the finest actress I've had the privilege to watch was Susanna Thompson. The actress who played the Borg Queen on Star Trek: Voyager landed in her finest role ever as Rick's ex wife Karen. Her character strikes the screen as a real person conflicted with her demands and worries. Jeffrey Nordling who plays Lily's ex husband Jake has recently shown how good an actor he is during the hostage situation in the restaurant.

I also love to watch Rick working under the scrutiny of Miles Drentell. David Clennon is a reasonably good actor and can deliver some mind bogging lines. I wonder what the future holds for the Atlantor project.

Edward Zwick is the most talented producer I've ever seen. From producing high budget movies with the intensity of The Siege and Courage Under Fire to high quality simple TV dramas like My So-Called Life and Once and Again. He deserved to take the academy award for producing Steven Soderbergh's Traffic.

I hope Once and Again stays around for a while longer delivering fresh quality scripts every week into our sets. In contrast to the constant garbage we watch on TV designed to boost meaningless ratings, Once and Again strives for quality rather than ratings. In a world so plagued by commercial and low quality programming designed to attract dumb viewers, Once and Again strikes as a mental heaven for those who wish to settle for peace and quiet. This show deserves a 10 out of 10!

Dawson's Creek (1998–2003)

A show that finally got back on track!

[5 January 2001]

Dawson's Creek's first two seasons were absolutely flawless! Unfortunately when the third season kicked in, the show lost it completely. The stories became unbearable as each character dealt with situations that could never have been written.

Last year, Dawson's Creek was bathed by its newfound success, driving the producers into the bottomless well of overconfidence. Fortunately, the writers gathered back together to create a major storyline in the middle of the third season. Along with Jen & Henry's relationship as well as Jack & Ethan's relationship, Pacey's newfound passion towards Joey became the highlight of the season. Dawson's Creek slowly got back on its track.

I've already seen eight episodes of the fourth season and, while not yet matching to the first season's quality, they are as good as the second season stories. Greg Berlanti truly managed to capture Kevin Williamson's original concept of the show and taught his writers remarkably well, especially Tom Kapinos and Gina Fattore. We still watch their daily routine, including their high quality vocabulary and constant movie references, which is truly a Kevin Williamson trademark. The show's direction is better than ever, thanks to the hands of Greg Prange and James Whitmore Jr. The visual sequences continue to be stunning. Capeside is one truly lovable fictional town. I also loved to listen to the old Season 1 theme at the end of every Season 4 episode.

I only wish Kevin Williamson and Jon Harmon Feldman returned to Dawson's Creek. The show's never been the same without those two.

Despite that nostalgic feeling, I returned to watch Dawson's Creek every week. I nearly dumped the show last year. I'm glad I didn't.

The characters were perfectly drawn since day one. I love them all. Pacey and Joey finally act like a normal young couple, unlike Dawson and Joey's former relationship. It reminds me of Dawson's relationship with Jen back on Season 1. I really feel sorry for Dawson since he's lost Joey to his best friend. Even though I love seeing Joey and Pacey together, I hope that one day Joey and Dawson find their way back to each other. They are destined to be together. But first I would love to see Dawson hooking with Pacey's sister Gretchen. Sasha Alexander is the best recurring character ever seen on Dawson's Creek. She brought all her well-earned Wasteland experience (another Kevin Williamson show). Jen continues to amaze me every week as she grows wiser and confident. Her relationship with Henry really changed her. I only hope she holds her confidence as well as her strength of character while dealing with recent events and Drue's disturbing presence. Jack is becoming more and more present on this show. He learned from Ethan and finally made peace with his father. I thought I would never accept his father, but I feel fortunate to have managed it. Jack is more open than ever if we look back on the second season. I love to see his friendship with Molly, reminding me of Pacey's moments with the kid who told him to kiss Joey last season. I'll miss Andie. I loved her character. I think she and Jack went through enough tragic situations in their lifetime. Andie lost her brother Tim, lost her mother to insanity, saw her brother come out of the closet, nearly drove herself crazy and lost Pacey after sleeping with another guy while in rehabilitation. I'm glad she got into Harvard. After nearly losing her on the rave due to ecstasy she took, I'm glad she didn't die. I hope things remain calmer in her life. I was glad to see Dawson's parents getting married again. I'm glad that after three seasons of betrayal, open marriage, separation and mishaps, these two marvelous characters found their way back into each other's arms as we always desired. Dawson's life got some stability from there.

Overall, Dawson's Creek is getting better every week. As long as the show doesn't take a downward spiral like it did last season, Dawson will one day rematch Season 1's quality and continue to impress. I hope Dawson's Creek keeps me impressed every week, thanks to the efforts of really talented people like Paul Stupin, Greg Berlanti, Greg Prange and the one who really started it all: Kevin Williamson.

Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)

A dramatic insight

[20 September 2000]

This was definitely a setback after First Contact, but it was a very decent movie.

Jonathan Frakes once again did a great job directing this movie. It's visually astonishing. Along with Jerry Goldsmith's outstanding soundtrack, this movie takes us in an unbelievable journey. Insurrection displays the best location filming ever featured in Star Trek history. The Ba'Ku homeworld has spetacular features and visuals.

The movie's 3 bottom lines are:

1.Bad Screenplay

2.Excessive use of humor coupled with unreal reactions of the actors.

3.100 minutes of duration (too short for the movie's storyline)

The movie's screenplay was written by Michael Piller based upon his and Rick Berman's story. Michael Piller is an excellent writer if this were to be a TV episode or movie. Piller's skills aren't good for the big screen. I have no doubt Insurrection would have pulled high ratings along the best Deep Space Nine episodes if it were broadcast directly on TV, instead of opening it on movie theatres.

It was a mistake from Frakes and Piller to attempt overshadowing First Contact and The Voyage Home in the humor arena. It was forced. Some scenes were outstanding such as when Picard and Worf sing "A British Tar" and Worf surrendering the So'Na claiming they want to negotiate a cease-fire because they only have three minutes of air left aboard their ship. There were also extremely awful scenes such as Beverly and Deanna commenting about boobs.

Even without Industrial Light and Magic, the movie's visual and special effects were still outstanding. Star Trek always holds its own in that area.

If it weren't for Michael Piller's screenplay, this could have been the best Star Trek story to date. Rick Berman did an excellent job in creating a very dramatic and insightful story about the Ba'Ku and the So'Na with the Enterprise crew caught in the middle of the story. This story was perfectly crafted to concide in the very middle of the Dominion War taking place during DS9's 6th and 7th seasons. It was a light-hearted story in the middle of highly dramatic stories taking place throughout the Alpha Quadrant.

I loved Picard's moments with Anij. But it should have been more explored. There wasn't even a single kiss! On the other hand, it was great to see Riker and Deanna finally get together. The return of Geordi's sight turned out to be one of the best parts in the movie. Insurrection was great storytelling featuring intense character development.

It was awful however to see Worf's puberty or his gorch. He should have never been brought to this movie on the first place. His visit on the Enterprise isn't even explained. He should be on Deep Space Nine following his own storyline (grieving the loss of his wife and eventually the events which would make him the ambassador of Kronos in the end of DS9).

Data's performance wasn't affected and it was interesting to see his scenes with the young Ba'Ku boy, Artim. I only wish he had brought his emotion chip with him. I understand it was Michael Piller's decision not to feature the chip again. I hope to see an emotional Data on the next Star Trek movie.

The villain Ru'Afo was badly developed. He could have been more menacing. Not as menacing as the Borg were in the previous movie, but as menacing as Khan or Soran.

The cast is outstanding! I just don't want to see another forced comedy in the next movie. Brannon Braga and Ronald D Moore are the truly excellent writers of Star Trek movies.

The space battles were a disappointment, but I loved that subspace weapon used by the So'Na. What would have happened if the subspace tear had caught the Enterprise?

Overall, it was an almost fantastic movie like First Contact! Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack really set the mood for Insurrection. This was the second best TNG movie and the third best Star Trek movie after First Contact and The Undiscovered Country.

Congratulations Paramount Pictures!

Friends (1994–2004)

What happened to Friends?

[21 May 2000]

I loved Friends during its initial four seasons. The actors were brilliant. The writing was perfect and true to the show's premise. It was the best comedy of the 90's.

Unfortunately these last two seasons were completely messed up. With Seinfeld's departure, Friends became more of a Seinfeld than a standout comedy about young people attempting to live their lives independently.

I no longer like Phoebe. She was fantastic from the Pilot to her giving birth to her brother's triplets. But afterwards, she became a stupid character, unfriendly, selfish. It's not the free-spirited Phoebe I once knew and loved.

These six young people no longer act like Friends. The writing changed completely. What happened to Ross & Rachel? When did Rachel stop loving Ross? We never see Ross's son anymore. Monica & Chandler are the most boring couple I've ever seen. We hardly see them together. They don't have any chemistry like Ross & Rachel had.

The stories used to be dramatic and character-based. They grew and learned from their actions. Recently, there's been no dramatic development on Friends. Instead, awful episodes like the Unagi episode (which doesn't make any sense in the overall storyline) went on air.

I hope Friends gets back on track next season developing its characters in realistic ways as it used to. I want this show back to the glory it was held for four seasons, instead of becoming another dumb sitcom of the 90's like Seinfeld.

Ally McBeal (1997–2002)

Outstanding evolution in Television

[21 March 2000]

Ally McBeal is one of David E. Kelley's finest creations right next with The Practice. This show features the professional and personal life of Ally McBeal, a Boston lawyer working for Richard Fish and John Cage (The Biscuit).

This show is absolutely brilliant. I watched the pilot episode, which was incredibly funny and well written. At first I wasn't amazed, but it got better with time and Ally McBeal became the best written comedy on television.

Ally is surpassed only by Friends and is superior than any other comedy series to date.

The actors and their characters have a great chemistry between them. I adore each one of these incredible and complex people. Georgia is a jealous, yet compassionate woman, now divorcing from Billy. Fish is as funny as anyone can possibly imagine. He formed the law firm and holds great ideals. I don't like the character of Renée as much as the others, but she's a great friend and confidant of Ally and I respect her for it. Elaine can be crazy, but she has a brilliant mind full of ideas and I hope she finds someone to cure her loneliness as it happened last christmas involving the abandoned baby. Vonda Shepard found a home in Ally McBeal as the bar singer and I consider her a true part of this show. I loved Nelle ever since the first time I saw her. She can be lovely and fantastic. Ling is truly funny and a complex character. She also had really painful moments in the series, but I adore her. John is a sweet and intelligent person. A brilliant lawyer. He loves Nelle and he also loves Ally. His friendship with Fish is touching. At first he didn't have much screen time, but Billy had more attention recently, due to his divorce from Georgia. He still loves Ally and I feel sorry for his upcoming departure.

Ally herself can be wacky and have strange visions, but a story in the Christmas of 1998, explained much of her inner visions and feelings.

I absolutely loved the first season crossover with the Practice. These two shows have much in difference and much in common as well. It was important for the evolution of both shows.

David E. Kelley's lawyer background brought this show brilliant scripts. Most of them are controversial, thought-provoking and incredibly well written. That worked on every one of his shows and it works on Ally better than any other.

While the show's main focus has been on Ally McBeal, I'm glad Kelley focused more on the rest of the cast. They are brilliant and deserve their screen time.

What impressed me most, was the evolution of the story. This show has always been a child at heart. David E. Kelley matured it as the show progressed. I'm incredibly impressed with the third season. The show is getting more dramatic. Georgia's lawsuit episode (one of the best yet) showed how these children are being dragged into adult situations being forced to grow from them. I hope to see a conclusion to this evolution at the end of the series, although I wish it never ended.

Ally herself has evolved as the show progressed. She will continue evolving along with the show.

Outstanding job David E. Kelley!