Etrival Reviews

Leverage (2008–2012)

A Very Engaging Set of Capers

[9/10 · 9 January 2009]

After catching the first few episodes of TNT's new series "Leverage" I can honestly say that I'm hooked on the adventures of Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton) and company.

The series involves Mr. Ford, formerly an insurance investigator, and his crew of felonious recruits: Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge), a very technologically savvy cyber-criminal. Eliot Spencer (Christian Kane), the muscle man with sincere martial arts training and speed that would make Jet Li envious. Parker (Beth Riesgraf), an expert cat burglar and thief. And Sophie Devereaux (Gina Bellman), a charismatic con-artist with aspirations to the acting world.

I believe Nathan Ford says it best, "I am an honest man leading a team of criminals." And I find that premise to be truly entertaining with Timothy Hutton at the helm.

Each episode Nathan Ford and his team are hired by individuals looking for their own brand of justice. Ford and company provide the means to an end, focusing on gathering a form of leverage to force the villains to pay their due.

All in all, it's a series I would recommend for those who like a bit of comedy with their justice. Or at least comedy with their criminal activity.

Supernatural (2005–2020)

Better Late Than Never

[10/10 · 30 December 2008]

This comment is clearly very late in the game, as supernatural is already almost four years old, and is well into season 4 as I'm writing this. However, I feel it very necessary to voice my personal opinion on the Brothers Winchester.

Supernatural follows the story of the aforementioned Brothers Winchester hailing from Lawerence, Kansas: Sam (played by Jared Padalecki) and Dean (played by wisecracking Jensen Ackles) on their journey to find their father and destroy any of the meddling supernatural occurrences that may plague the people of America. (At least, this is the premise of season 1). Their journeys take them all across America, hunting down creatures such as Ghosts, Reapers, Shtriga (vampiric witches), Shapeshifters, and even several urban legends! And that's all just in Season 1. Seasons 2 and 3 are packed with even more baddies for the Brothers to hunt down and slay, with season 4 heating up the action with a coming war between Heaven and Hell... things are just getting started for the Winchesters.

So tune in and ride along in their cherry '67 Chevy Impala, and join the world of Supernatural.

Chuck (2007–2012)

Oh, Chuck, when will you learn...

[9/10 · 13 December 2008]

...that staying in the car isn't always the best option.

For those of you who don't understand the title-to-comment poke at television series "Chuck", that's A-OK. One of the recurring gags is when Chuck's handlers tell him to 'stay in the car'.

Now that we've got that out of the way...

Chuck is a comedy/espionage series about the exploits of Chuck Bartowski (admirably played by Zachary Levi), a panicky "Nerd" from Buy-More's "Nerd Herd" (the show's equivalent of Best Buy's "Geek Squad"), a twelve dollar an hour nobody who was just made the country's biggest asset.

**POSSIBLE SPOILER BELOW**

Still reading? Shiny.

Chuck has become the "Intersect", a walking, talking composite of all of the US Government's secrets and collective knowledge. How he got this way I'll let the pilot episode explain, but it makes for an interesting plot dynamic as Chuck's new handlers Sarah Walker (played by the gorgeous Yvonne Strahovski), and John Casey (played by veteran stone-face funny-man Adam Baldwin) take him on mission after mission of intrigue and humor in hopes that he'll "flash" on a person, object, or some other off-the-wall thing.

Basically, since Chuck is the repository of all government knowledge, he has the oft-times unpredictable ability to "flash". Which gives him immediate knowledge on what that person or object is and of what significance it is to national security, thus allowing him to inform his handlers (Casey and Walker) who save the day, usually in a comedic, explosive fashion.

All in all, it's a crazy, hilarious good time, filled with spies, guns and crazy, crazy best friends. (Joshua Gomez plays Chuck's best friend Morgan Grimes. The man is an absolute grab-bag of hilarity.)

Definitely, Maybe (2008)

I Definitely liked this movie, and Maybe you should watch it.

[10/10 · 18 June 2008]

First, allow me to say that the screen father/daughter chemistry of Abigail Breslin and Ryan Reynolds is wonderful. The two deliver Oscar worthy performances in hands-down the best romantic comedy I've seen.

**WARNING! POSSIBILITY OF SPOILERS BELOW!**

I do my best to write my reviews without any spoilers, but if you want to see the movie without a more descriptive plot outline than the back of the DVD case, please, do not read further.

Ryan Reynolds plays William Hayes, an advertising executive and father to Maya Hayes. When Maya first learns about sexual education at school, and asks why one of her classmates is considered an 'accident', William is coerced into telling Maya the story of how he met her mother.

They create sort of a game, in which William changes all the names of the women in his life around the time he met her mother, and Maya gets to play "Guess Who's Your Mom!" Beyond that, I refuse to give spoilers, however, I will say that the love interests of Reynolds are fantastic. Elizabeth Banks is wonderful as Emily, a bright star to add to the cast. Rachel Weisz brings yet another in a long line of brilliant and captivating performances and adds another notch to her proverbial acting belt, as Summer Hartley, and last, but certainly not least, Isla Fischer is captivating in her role as April Hoffman and delivers a tear-inducing performance.

Yes, I admit it freely, this movie was very touching and I shed more than one tear over the heartrending and heartwarming experiences of William's trials and tribulations in finding love and happiness.

This movie is rated a deserved 10/10.

Horton Hears a Who! (2008)

Acid + LSD + Dr. Seuss = Best Movie Of All Time

[10/10 · 15 April 2008]

There is nothing about this movie that I disliked. At all. I just wanted to get that out of the way before I got into the meat and potatos of the review.

First, the animation was absolutely spectacular. Blue Sky Studios did a fantastic job on that end of the deal. The voice talent was excellent, Jim Carrey as Horton and Steve Carell as the Mayor of Whoville were both fantastic, and their supporting cast was absolutely phenomenal as well (I was particularly taken with Will Arnett as Vlad the Vulture).

The story was not 100% Dr. Seuss canon, but it the artistic license taken was not even close to insulting to Seuss' memory, and most of the differences from the poem/story and the screenplay are barely noticeable.

I refuse to give away spoilers, though I will say one thing: Give this movie a chance. If you walk in without expectations as I did, you will be absolutely blown away.

Horton Hears a Who! - 10/10

30 Days of Night (2007)

Very gritty. Very cool.

[9/10 · 18 February 2008]

I can honestly say that 30 Days of Night takes the tired, done to death vampire story and puts a rather fresh spin on it. Gone are the vampires who are so completely wimpy that Blade can kill with a single swing of his manly sword. These vampires are a new kind of evil, one that takes the speed and strength of previous vampires and kicks that up a notch. These are vicious, deadly predators. Animalistic. (Though they still wear the stereotypical 'goth' clothing: Black trench coats, black clothes, combat boots, etc.) Josh Hartnett plays Sheriff Eben Oleson of a small town near the northern spike of Alaska that experiences a full, uninterrupted month of darkness once a year.

That makes it the perfect playground for an orgy of violence and carnage delivered by the most basic of evils.

With a brilliant supporting cast including Mark Boone Junior, a chilling Ben Foster and beautiful Melissa George, backing the veteran silver screen star, David Slade directs a disturbing portrayal of the human instinct to survive and thrive in the desolate landscape while stalked by a tireless, terrifying death.

Vampire lovers... drink your fill.

I give 30 Days of Night, 9 out of 10.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008–2009)

Admittedly Well Written

[8/10 · 6 February 2008]

The Sarah Connor Chronicles, I admit, had a very rocky start with the pilot, simply because it seems to wipe out any canon that the third film had. (I suppose that could be a blessing in disguise. Let's face it, the film was pretty awful. Though the cast wasn't exactly at fault.) We pick up a short while after Terminator 2 left off. John Connor (Thomas Dekker, Zach of "Heroes") is 15 years old, and Sarah Connor (Lena Headey "300" ) has morphed into something much hotter and far more fit for action and violence. They are now joined by a very new model of Terminator who actually has an alias now, Cameron (the remarkably talented Summer Glau of "Firefly" and "Serenity" fame).

Hunted by the relentless Terminator from the future slated under the alias of Cromartie (David Kilde, veteran stunt man and having a small part in the Matrix Reloaded), and FBI Agent James Ellison (Richard T. Jones, best known for his supporting role as Bruce Van Exel in "Judging Amy") John and company try to once again halt the coming of Judgment Day and the revolution of the machines.

Add in a great supporting role performance from Dean Winters (HBO's "Oz" and FX's "Rescue Me") and you have a pretty solid cast.

The premise itself is hardly new ground for the Terminator saga, however it adds in a lot of flair with an angsty John trying to come to grips with the fact that he is eventually going to become the hero of the human race. Sarah Connor once again is trying to prepare him as best she can to accomplish his destiny, with the aid of Cameron the typical clueless cyborg trying to complete her mission.

The show has a lot of promise and went, in my eyes, from "Canceled in a Season" to, "Huh. Now I'm curious as to what happens." Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles merits an 8/10

Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight (2008 Video)

A Faithful, if Abridged, Adaptation

[9/10 · 10 January 2008]

This small screen adaptation of the timeless novel from Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman tells the story of Tanis Half-Elven and his cadre of friends in their quest to find the Disks of Mishakal and stop the Dark Goddess Takhisis from taking over the world of Krynn.

Tanis Half-Elven, voiced by Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor of Smallville fame), is a man trying to come to grips with being, as the book claimed it "half of two things, and all of nothing". He is half-elf and half-human, being accepted by neither and distrusted by both races.

Tanis and his friends Caramon Majere (Rino Romano), Raistlin Majere (Kiefer Sutherland), Sturm Brightblade (Marc Worden), Flint Fireforge (Fred Tatasciore), and Tasslehoff Burrfoot (Jason Marsden), have reunited in the town of Solace after five years, where all spent their time finding themselves and their way in the world. Returning to Solace, they find their friend Tika Waylan (Michelle Trachtenberg) to be all grown up and the new owner of the Inn most of them grew up in. At the inn, they meet Goldmoon (Lucy Lawless) and Riverwind (Phil LaMarr) of the Que-shu tribe of barbarians out of the north. Goldmoon comes to Solace bearing the fabled Blue Crystal Staff. After a rousing tale by the old wizard known only as Fizban the Fabulous, they are accosted by a 'church official', who is accidentally thrown into the hearth by Riverwind and set aflame. Fizban snatches the Blue Crystal Staff away from Goldmoon, striking the official down and magically healing him with the staff's mystical powers... this sets forth a chain of events that remains remarkably faithful to the book, yet still compressed enough to remain within the 90 minute time span.

Semi-decent animation and a few corny lines of dialogue as well as okay delivery are the only things separating this from being a 10.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight - 9/10.

Dexter (2006–2013)

Delightfully Twisted

[10/10 · 27 November 2007]

"Dexter" is a show that gives the viewer a look into the life of Dexter Morgan, a blood-spatter analyst working for a local police department in Miami. However, Dexter has a rather interesting secret: He's a serial killer.

Dexter (played splendidly by Michael C. Hall of "Six Feet Under" fame) is a likable character with but one flaw: he has no emotions. Thus his ability to kill for the purpose of justice. Dexter only kills those whom he believes have escaped the justice of the Miami police. Child molesters, murderers and full-blown wackaloons, all fall under Dexter's infinite care and planning.

Ever aiding his foul-mouthed adoptive sister (played by a sexy Jennifer Carpenter) in her pursuit to be a detective to match their adoptive father in caliber, Dexter's adventures continue to twist the imagination.

Keep it up, Showtime, you've got a... killer series on your hands.

Doctor Strange (2007 Video)

"Doctor Strange" hits the mark...

[9/10 · 9 August 2007]

I have ever been a fan of Marvel Comics' "Doctor Strange". I've always enjoyed the Sorceror Supreme, and this straight to DVD release of the good Doctor's tale of his rise from self-important doctor to Sorceror Supreme had me enthralled from the get go.

Doctor Strange, voiced by the talented Bryce Johnson, was a good choice for the voice of Strange, keeping with the element of curiosity and intellect that the Doctor displayed in his early days of his learning underneath the Ancient One.

Now, I know that most will complain about the very, very condensed version of Doctor Strange's story, but I believe that Greg Johnson did a great job writing the script for a feature film that highlight's the Doctor's fledgling career as a sorceror, while not completely glossing over all of the parts that make the story important and believable... well, as believable as a comic book superhero can be.

Johnson's screenplay touches on the Doctor's career, putting us into the point where we see the Doctor as he was just before his accident that mangled his hands. A self-important, smug, condescending man who has little time to expend on treating patients who will not attain a spot for his name in medical journals.

The story continues there, touching over his history with his sister, but not completely leaving the parts that flesh out the Doctor, make him more human to us.

At this point, I'm afraid my review must end, for I will not give away the rest of the Doctor's story. You'll just have to see it for yourselves, and that is exactly what I recommend you do. I give the animated adaptation of Doctor Strange's fledgling career a 9/10.

Burn Notice (2007–2013)

Spectacular

[10/10 · 6 July 2007]

Last week Thursday was one of those days: The kind that gives you the choice of staring at the ceiling, or perusing your DVR in hopes of finding something worthwhile (but rarely finding anything).

After sifting through the various MythBusters episodes and my regularly recorded series', I came across something that had me utterly confused, "'Burn Notice'? The hell?" I hadn't heard anything about the show, so I thought, "Screw it, I'm bored, let's see if I can't squeeze some water from a stone." I can honestly say, I'm utterly impressed with the show. I was floored by the entire piece.

Jeffery Donovan leads a very talented cast as the 'burned' spy-turned-private-eye Michael Westen, a man just trying to figure out why someone would put a 'burn notice' out on him. (For those who haven't seen the show or the commercials a 'burn notice' is when a spy is cut off, no jobs, nothing.) Donovan's acerbic delivery and amusing narration pull the show together, and his on-screen chemistry with acting veteran Bruce Campbell really keep the laughs coming.

I'd highly recommend the show for those who like a mix of comedy and espionage.