emerald01 Reviews

Defiance (2013–2015)

Disappointed.

[3/10 · 19 April 2013]

This show has some great cast and decently credited creators. But the show dragged out almost every stereotype and trope in Sci Fi, and that was just the first hour. It may seem silly, but I was actually offended by being presented with a "terra-formed" Earth. It is a redundancy, and Earth appears to have been Volt-formed instead.. This is simple definition, and the lack of thought behind it bodes ill for what the writers are going to do in the future. Sci Fi fans are intelligent and generally demand intelligent shows. I just don't think this pilot fit the bill.

I feel badly for Julie Benz and the rest of what is really an excellent cast. They are being given trite, unworthy material to work with. And the attempts to be edgy and/or sexy were clumsy and poorly integrated.

Perhaps the show will improve with the intended storyline, but the pilot gives little indication of it. It makes me sad because I really had hopes for this show.

A Dog's Breakfast (2007)

Insanely funny

[10/10 · 3 July 2007]

I've just downloaded the film from iTunes, and I am absolutely pre-ordering the DVD from Amazon. Paul McGillion's straight-on performance is perfect counter to Hewlett's raving lunatic. Hewlett is, unsurprisingly, brilliant. Fantastic job as a director, and Kate is charming as the sister. The shameless jokes and sound effects added only make this film even funnier. I can't wait to get out the projector and have my own special screening of this film.

Naturally, the star of the movie is Mars, the dog. He's almost as much of a scene-stealer as Hewlett. The interspersed scenes of the in-film science fiction series are an added bonus for anyone who is a fan of Hewlett's and McGillion's work on Stargate: Atlantis. But even if you've never seen them before, this film is well worth the watching.

Due South (1994–1999)

Brilliant continuation of the series!

[10/10 · 7 January 2003]

With the replacement of Ray Vecchio with Ray Kowalski, the show's dynamic changes a bit. But that's not a bad thing! The chemistry is different, but it's a whole lot of fun. The story lines are fun and interesting, and the quirkiness is highlighted. Sometimes it gets a little silly, but that's good, too. This show maintained the focus of the series, with Fraser insisting on doing what's right and Ray trying to work with his partner's idiosyncrasies. Two thumbs, and two big toes, way up!

Looking for Leonard (2002)

An odd love story with Indie style and interesting characters...

[24 September 2002]

I caught "Looking for Leonard" at the Stoney Brook Film Festival, and loved it. Kim Huffman plays a woman who wants to be a writer but makes a living robbing stores with her boyfriend and his brother. Joel Bissonnette is a Czech computer programmer who comes to Montreal on the promise of a job, only to arrive and find that the company no longer exists. Their paths cross and their lives are transformed: by death, by danger, and by love.

Interspersed with documentary clips of Leonard Cohen set to punk music, this film has a flavor and style that you just can't find in all those big budget films. Driven by interesting characters, skillful directing and camera work, and top quality acting, this film is a perfect example of what Canada has to offer.