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Reviews
Six Feet Under (2001)
Entrancing, confronting, charming, absolutely mindbending. Feels like an insult to call it television
And I rarely even watch television. I'm a book person.
Not since the "X-Files" has a TV show been so intriguing. Every time I watch an episode, I am struck back be depth of storyline, the intricate characters and the left-of-the-middle storytelling. I literally cannot control myself from discussing each new episode with (bored) family members.
SFU is a very introverted show - it resembles more a book or play than television. While the latter is extroverted and relies on events happening to characters (eg: the overboard emergencies of ER or the romances in soaps) to carry the story, Six Feet Under wants to communicate the deepest feelings and ideals of the people on screen. As a result, it not only stimulates the mind but also helps us analyse ourselves.
In the hands of any other creators, this would make for a very dull hour of suburban spirituality, but Allan Ball's menagerie of ghosts, (past characters influencing the present) trippy daydream sequences, surreal atmosphere and some wicked black humour make for a very entertaining show and sell what would otherwise be a marketing disaster to the masses. On top of that, every component from acting to directing to screenplay is flawless. (the dead boy's ghost in "a private life" still chills me to the bone).
Most, of all I admire the characters: some of the most complex and enchanting creatures ever to grace the idiot box. After a few episodes, they feel like a second family.
While I do have my complaints about the amount of obscenity, (I can swear that sometimes the writers want to offend us just for fun) I have to give my show the highest commendations. There are, of course, moments when I feel like throwing my chair at the television, but that is simply the consequence of watching a show that challenges me, rather than offer cheap amusement.
SFU may take a while to get into, but the rewards are bountiful.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
A great action-adventure, but nothing more than that. Not IMDB best film material.
While I agree that Lord of the Rings was excellently scripted, acted and directed, (not to mention a brilliant soundtrack) I would not agree with it being the #1 movie of all time. In the end, the storyline is simplistic - good, courageous men battle evil ugly baddies in orcs-n-goblins fantasy settings. The only important events are the (frequent) fighting scenes - between them the character development is dull and uneventful. As much as Tolkien was famed for innovation in literature, his story feels primitive and dated, and even a director like Peter Jackson would be unable to alleviate that.
Dark Angel (2000)
Flawed, but excellent show.
Normally, I would not waste time writing a review for an internet magazine, but after seeing such violent criticism of Dark Angel I felt I had to act. This from the same group that called the by-the-book adaptation of "Lord of the Rings" a masterpiece.
I would also like to say that I do not care about the girl-girl fight scenes and do not have a crush on Miss Alba. (how a television viewer can be attracted to a person they never met in real life is a mystery to me).
Most of all, I hate sci-fi and fantasy with a passion. The empty, cliched characters that have no purpose in their lives other than the danger-of-the-week storyline (and the occasional "romance" if ratings sag). Its naive concept of good (=spotless do-gooder humans with the gift of science/magic) versus evil (= ugly, boneheaded orcs/demons/aliens). etc, etc, etc
Which is why I love the cold, dark world of Dark Angel. There are no nasty inhuman things that periodically attack humans. The dangers come from humans: terrorists, slave dealers and human research facilities that invoke German concentration camps. There are no do-gooder characters either. Even our heroic X5's were bred to be killers and often make no effort to restrain their taste for blood while fighting for their cause. Logan, who fights against corrupt citizens, lives in a penthouse funded by one. The characters become more complex as the series progresses. Logan, in particular, evolves from a positive influence into a weak, suicidal shell of a man. We are also allowed to look into the private lives of the characters - their hopes, hobbies, dreams and beliefs. The result is that the people feel real and able to live their lives outside the episodes.
The show is simply well-done. The storyline is fresh and clever, the action fast and furious and the characters a joy to follow. The writing and direction turn what would otherwise be a cliched show into a excellent thriller. The fact that danger-of-the-week storylines have been replaced by a single, continuing story adds to the suspense and atmosphere. My only major complaint is the show's relentless puppy-dog-eyes need to appeal to the lowest common denominator when it clearly does not have to (for example, using Alba's looks to sell the show - she is attractive enough without the ridiculous call-girl scene in the first episode.)
All in all, an excellent show. 9/10