rachel_lb Reviews

Without a Trace (2002–2009)

A refreshing new show for Thursday nights

[30 November 2002]

Being a big fan of Anthony LaPaglia, I knew I had to tune in to his new show "Without a Trace." "ER" has turned into a depressing disappointment the last few years, so this show is turning out to be a worthy adversary. It follows the work of the Bureau of Missing Persons. Each agent investigates the circumstances of a missing person and develop a psychological profile (via flashbacks) of said person. It's a really intriguing idea, the flashbacks. It's a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining show. LaPaglia proves with each episode that he is a skillful (and sadly underrated) actor. My new fave is Agent Danny Taylor, played with jaded finesse by Enrique Murciano (onward, Latino actors!).

Just watch the show. It's awesome. :-)

The Kids in the Hall (1988–2021)

The Kids are so awesome!

[18 June 2002]

I'm watching the show right now as I type this. What can I say about the Kids in the Hall? What indeed? They are really wild, really outrageous, and really funny! It's like they didn't care who they offended and didn't care what anyone thought, which is rare in today's bland and ridiculously-PC-to-a-fault society. They weren't afraid to pull any punches or even to make fun of themselves. They just had a ton of fun cracking jokes about the absurdity of life itself.

Fave character of all time is Scott Thompson's Buddy Cole, the ultra-gay bartender. Best Buddy monologue is him talking about race -- very tongue-in-cheek and so true.

I love this show, I love the guys, and can't say enough about it. :-)

Seven Days (1998–2001)

I miss this show terribly

[11 June 2002]

Usually, I'm not a big fan of science fiction. But when I heard Jonathan LaPaglia was getting his own series, I just had to check it out. I was not disappointed. "7 Days" was an awesome mix of sci-fi, action, drama, suspense, and dark comedy. Frank B. Parker, the Chrononaut (aka time traveler), was a mischief-maker and had a lot of emotional and mental problems. But deep inside he was a good guy -- he did the right thing by saving the country (sometimes even the world) because it was his job and honor to do it.

I wish UPN had given this show a better chance, rather than shuffling it around and taking it for granted. I miss it, but I'll always be thankful I watched it.

It (1990)

A pretty good movie

[7/10 · 11 June 2002]

I first saw this movie on ABC in the fall of 1990. Though it was scary, it was rather tame compared to the book (which I *did* read and is more gruesome than the movie). The acting was very good from both the adult actors (huge thumbs-up for Tim Curry as Pennywise/IT) and child actors (especially Ben Heller as young Stanley - whatever happened to him?). I can understand why some Stephen King fans might be upset to see his book "butchered" or altered or whatever, but it's a 1000+ page book. The producers and writers took artistic license, and did a good job.

This is a great movie to watch on a weekend night, or a rainy afternoon. I really recommend it.