Just a quickie...

...this week, haven't really managed to watch much, altho I can't exactly say that I've done much else because, well, this is me we're talking about, and I'm pretty damn lazy.

So here's the roundup, as far as I can remember:

Taken: Have had this one for a while now, and it's not really caught my attention until somebody recommended it to me. It was fairly enjoyable, a quite down-to-earth tail of an retired government agent who travels to Paris to find his daughter who has been abducted, utilising all of the skills he knows best (basically, it's like your dad kicking some ass). I was hungover when I watched it, so it could have been worse than I remember.

Se7en: Took me AAAAGES to watch this one, 14 years to be exact. Granted, I was 7 when it came out, but you think I could have gotten round to it at some point. It was, however, worth the wait. Just the right amount of plot twists in this detective thriller made it a great watch, especially with the cast of Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, who manage to play off each other brilliantly. I also love seeing how outdated technology is just a decade ago, much like the "futuristic" technology in The Bone Collector.

Weeds: I've finally managed to get round to catching up with the 5th season of Weeds, and have to say, I'm not that impressed. The first few seasons were great, but after branching away from the Agrestic/Majestic suburbs, the storylines have become way too far-fetched and ridiculous to say the least. Not only have the mexicans thoroughly invaded, but the amazing sub-plots involving Andy and Doug have all but vanished. Re-watching the first and second series has reminded me that it IS a great show tho.

Dexter: Managed to complete Season 3, after starting it a couple of months ago (I really need to pick something and watch it from start to finish in one go). Pretty great, as per usual, although I'd still lump it in the same boat as Weeds, in which the original series was SO great that it's pretty hard to compete as the series develops. Season 3 did have a pretty great last few episodes, which helped to redeem the previous episodes (which could explain why it took me so long, the earlier episodes were so boring that I just couldn't be bothered).

And that's pretty much it. Granted, TV shows take longer to watch, but still, poor effort on my part. Also, I was pretty bored yesterday, and wasn't in the mood for ANY of the films I've got, so I started 30 Rock from the beginning. Never fails to amuse, and is in some parts better the second time around, where you notice the little hidden jokes that fly so thick and fast the first time (much like my re-watching of Arrested Development, the number of hidden gems in that is incredible).

Hopefully next week I'll find something good to watch, if not, I'll probably just make up a few lies and pretend that I actually care :)

~ Lazy

Dead Like Me

So it's been a bit of a busy week for me, with all the socialising and what-have-you, but I did manage to catch the Dead Like Me movie, Life After Death. Now if you don't know what Dead Like Me is, then take a step back. Look at your life and ask yourself "AM I TRUELY AWESOME". The answer is most probably no, unless you're me...or Barney Stinson.

Info: IMDB | Wikipedia

Dead Like Me was a TV show that ran for 2 seasons in 2003/4 on the Showtime (USA) network. Now if you've ever seen any Showtime programs (the best of which recently have been Dexter and Californication), then you'll no doubt love the deep dark humour that runs through this show. I'm still not entirely sure how I stumbled upon this show, but it's probably the same way I manage to find any of the stuff I watch...just pure luck. The premise of the show, following a group of Grim Reapers as they go about their day taking the souls of the soon-to-be-departed, was fresh and original. The reason the show got cancelled? NO IDEA.

So now we come to 5 years later and the release of a Direct-to-DVD movie which, unlike the series, lacks a lot of the humour and quirkiness that made the original series such a hit (with me at least). With the release of the movie, many of the questions that were left partially unanswered towards the end of the series finally get an answer. When most network shows get cancelled, it's usually because they're crap and no-body cares. When a show ends its run after many years, storylines get tied up and everyone lives happily ever after. Woo. But what happens to all the great shows that have problems with premature ecancellation? WHY WONT YOU JUST THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!

Now the real reason why I'm talking about this DVD isn't because it's that good. The plot is full of holes, 2 of the actors have left (one being replaced which was frankly a TERRIBLE move) and the entire film feels forced. But an end is an end, and who knows, maybe it'll spark everyone to petition to bring the show back and it will return to it's former glory. The real reason I'm mentioning this is because it's a great day for cancelled shows. With the return of Dead Like Me, and the impending return of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (BRING ON THE MOVIE!!), it signifies a shift. No longer will cancelled shows be left to rot in some fat guy's basement. If the fan's are behind it, why shouldnt good TV get its fond farewell? I've seen far too many decent shows being cancelled in recent years, only to be replaced with the the utmost tripe that i wouldnt even wipe my arse with. But slowly but surely, the fans are kicking back.

Futurama. Dead Like Me. and now Arrested Development?...all we need now is the return of Freaks and Geeks and I think i'll wet myself.

-Lazy