Change Your Image
--TBone--
Reviews
Memento (2000)
Hands down...an instant classic!
One the surface, this could look like a lame movie...dead-wife revenge film, an uh..The guy has a sort of amnesia..LOL. Far from the truth. It's cleverly written and executed! Showing the scenes in reverse, stroke of genius! As we watched it, we felt a bit of what the Lenny must have felt; out of touch with reality, confused and straining for a clue as to where we were in the story. He had tattoos, notes and Polaroid's and we had previous scenes to piece together. It's almost as if you are part of the story :) It unfolds so beautifully. After the first seen, my wife and I thought, ok..Well this is a little anti-climactic. But we were in for a great ride. We are grateful that we saw this in DVD because every 10 min. we were pausing it, going back to some dialogue and trying to piece events together. Normally this would be an annoying task, but it was a joy. The ending blew us away. We will certainly be thinking about this one for weeks. I heard about this movie when the director was on "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross last month. It was the first time I had heard about it. It's a great interview and there are some interesting insights. I'm glad that I bought the DVD, I had no doubt that it was going to be a keeper, but had NO IDEA that it would be one of my top five movies of all time! This film deserves Oscar nods, especially in the editing dept. [10/10] and I don't throw 10's like Frisbees! This one is tops! Trust me.
Dragon Tales (1999)
Why does Ord whine so much? He needs kid boot camp...
My 2 year old is hooked on Dragon Tales (along with Blue's Clues). I really don't get exactly why. Visually, it's not that appealing. He's 2, so the storyline isn't relevant. Maybe it's a color scheme? I think the stories and general message of the show are great. Hopefully it will have some value to him if he is still into the show in a year or so. I do know this...he sits through the entire episode. Occasionally he will laugh. The other night we were watching the tape when the kid in the cartoon, Max, is trying to bang notes on a toy xylophone with some flowers!?! They then shatter (for no apparent reason). My kid cracks up, full belly laugh with tears in his eyes. I'm laughing with my kid while he is enjoying himself over this weird, somewhat unfunny scene. I have to say that I would have laughed at this on my own because it was odd that fresh cut flowers would shatter (with full glass shatter sound effects). Anyway, if the kid likes it, I like it. Positive stories. A little weird and a little lame for adults but let the kids decide what they like. Think of the stuff we made OUR parents sit through....oh ya, pal...it's payback :) Tbone
Caroline in the City (1995)
Is it just me?
Is it just me or does this lame show appeal to people only in Europe? This show is an example of what happens when power is wielded in the wrong hands. Weak premise + Very (and I mean VERY) bad writing = lousy show. So why was this on for four years in the most coveted of all timeslots you ask? Glad you asked, maybe you can help me figure this one out because I DON'T have an answer for you, Sunshine. It's still a mystery. Sorry to be so smug, but some shows just beg smug. T-Bone
Ed (2000)
Sunday night is 2 for 1 night at Stuckey Bowl...
"Ed" is a warm-hearted comedy/drama that makes you feel good when, well, when Ed feels good. Here is a guy who lost his job and found his wife cheating on him in the same day. He then pursues a high school crush and buys a bowling alley in his hometown of Stuckeyville. I fell in love with this show on the premise alone, before I even saw the pilot. It's very well written. The thing I like about the character of Ed is that after the devastating loss of his job and marriage, he does not seem bitter, but optimistic. He's a clever, funny, likeable guy who's part underdog and part hero. I want to point out that Thomas Cavanagh really makes this show happen. He becomes Ed! Cavanagh has a charm about him that is essential to this character, a demeanor that's warm, sincere and believable. I'm a huge `Northern Exposure' fan and I think the comparisons have been stretched a bit. Yes, you have some oddball characters but I think another thing they share is that they lack spiteful characters and heavy sarcasm. I guess there is another element I'm missing but any of you NX fans out there probably get my drift. A stroke of genius of the creators to have him practice law on the side. Everyone loves good courtroom scenes and in this case, peppered with some comedy makes it all the better. I'm writing this as if I have watched the show for several years when in fact I have only seen two episodes. I'm really taken with `Ed' and have high hopes for it. I have to say that I think NBC is nuts to put this on against "The Simpson's" and "Malcolm in the Middle". I'll have to get out my other VCR. "Ed" is a fledgling winner that needs some time and nurturing before going up against the big boys of Sunday night. Expect a new time slot before next season.