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Family Guy: Life of Brian (2013)
R.I.P Family Guy - The end of an Era
On January 31st 1999, Seth MacFarlane got the go ahead to create Family Guy, a hilarious show involving a dysfunctional American family. For many years I remained a devoted fan of this show. Then Family Guy was cancelled in 2003. Fans rallied together and brought the show back in 2005. The show continued to deliver it's witty style of dark comedy for the next couple of years. We then fast forward shortly after the completion of season 7 when creator Seth MacFarlane announced that he thought the show had run its course but decided to continue to produce new episodes.
In later years, the show began to suffer from a noticeable drop in quality, but still remained relatively true to itself. By the time season 10 came around, I was shocked at how unfunny I found it. The jokes were too hate filled, the characters quickly became very mean-spirited and they lost that fun innocence that the show was so perfect at balancing out. I myself stayed with Family Guy during its ups and downs, probably due to my optimism that this was just a faze and the show could still return to it's clever, witty comedy. Those thoughts changed on November 25th when I watched the newest Family Guy episode entitled "The Life of Brian". What I got for 20 minutes was not funny or even remotely entertaining. What I got was a desperate cry for attention from a show that has lost it's way.
To those of you who have not seen the episode I will briefly explain the summary. Brian and Stewie use the time machine to go back in time to retrieve guns that were given to native Americans by Stewie. After they succeed, Stewie destroys his time machine and he and Brian bring home some hockey equipment from the dump. Long story short Brian gets hit by a car, he DIES, the family cries and they GET A NEW DOG, THE END. Thats right, Brian Griffin a TV icon was killed in cold blood on live TV to the horror of millions of Family Guy fans. What's even more insulting about this episode is that it spends the first couple of minutes reminding you why this character is awesome. Here's the problem, Brian just like every other character on this show has become a shadow of his former self. By the time this episode aired, Brian had lost every bit of likability that he originally had. He does not deserve our sympathy.
I really had to think about this episode before putting my thoughts into this review. During this episode, I did not feel sadness,I was hurt. This episode hurt me inside. After watching the show for so many years, sticking with it even during its time in peril, the creators decided to punch their fans in the face. What hurts me the most about this episode is not that they killed my favourite character on the show, they killed my last sense of hope that the show still had that spark of entertainment in it. This episode for me was proof that the team that produces this show has lost it's passion. Even the Simpsons, despite the fact the it has run it's course still has the passion to at least try to entertain. Family Guy has nothing left to contribute because the people behind it clear don't care anymore.
I went through denial after seeing this episode.I wanted to believe that the episode must have been a bad dream because I never would have thought that the staff of Family Guy would even dare to pull such a dirty trick to boost ratings. Yes, that is exactly what this episode was for.
The decision to kill a main character was built up weeks before this episode, when one of the writers announced that a character would be killed and replaced.If you want to do this to improve the show, fine, after 13 years, change needs to happen. But if you are going to do something like this and take advantage of your viewers, all I have to say is, SHAME ON YOU.
I wouldn't be as angry as I am now if it wasn't for the fact that I know that he will come back. Family Guy fans are going to be all happy and we can go back to the way it was. Look at the ridiculous "Bring Brian Back Campaigns" online. The show will continue on its path of mediocrity until either Seth or Fox decide to pull the plug. It will be like The Simpsons, a shadow of its former self and won't apologize for it. Fans will continue to watch despite noticing its obvious drop in quality. For three years I have feebly clung to this show, hoping for it to improve but it hasn't. I'm not going to waste anymore of my time watching this trash. It's really sad that in an era that has unfortunately suffered from a lack of good comedy, Family Guy was like a shining light in the dark. After all these years, Family Guy's light has been sadly snuffed out.
That is all!
Act of Valor (2012)
Good Intentions, Poor Delivery
Act of Valor is a film with good intentions but as a film it sadly fails in many aspects. Let's start with the story first. The film tells the story of a group of US Navy SEALS who are sent on missions to stop a wanted terrorist by the name of Abu Shabal. His plan apparently is to use a group of suicide bombers to blow themselves up using explosive jackets, As I mentioned before, the film has good intentions, it is taking us on a journey to witness the difficulties of being a soldier. The film unfortunately fails though to create a fresh original story, engaging or memorable characters, a compelling antagonist, etc. I would usually at this point go through my thoughts on the characters but I honestly don't remember any of them. How can I get interested when I can hardly even remember their names or anything about them. We don't know their family, their back stories, their personalities, what they are interested in, nothing. We get only one scene of one of the soldiers saying goodbye to his wife and thats it. We are then thrown into battle without ever having the time to get to know these soldiers. The villain is also nothing more than a cookie-cutter terrorist that we have seen in countless other movies. Like the soldiers, we are barely given any time to get to know him or learn his motivations. We are literally told that he is bad and he must die and that's it. This film failed in what I believe is the most important aspect to telling any story. You must create interesting, compelling characters so that the audience can care about what they do or what they are about to do.
The action in the film especially at the beginning is decent. This is really Act of Valor's saving grace but it is not enough to save the film. Like I said it is good but we have seen action like this before in better films such as Black Hawk Down. The action sequences in the second half of the film are restricted to first person, making you feel like your watching someone play Call of Duty. When it's done once or twice, it's fine. If you do it over and over again it becomes tedious. The settings are also quite dark in the second half, making it difficult to see what is happening or who is doing what.
Act of Valor provides little originality and is a total mess of war movie clichés. I like the idea of real Navy SEALS showing us what it is like to do their jobs but that can be made into a documentary, not a feature length film. I have no doubt that there are people who love this film, maybe it really strikes home for them. For me, I will stick with better films such as Letters From Iwo Jima and Paths of Glory, two films that really get into the heart of a soldier. Watch it if your interested but it's just not for me.
The Changeling (1980)
A Masterfully Directed Ghost Story
The Changeling is just one of those films that was overshadowed by titles that were deemed superior at the time. The Changeling was a film directed by Peter Medak in 1980. The reason for its lack of audience was due to the rise of the slasher genre in the late 70's. Much like The Shining it was unsuccessful at the box office and was forgotten for a few years. The Changeling has been developing a cult following since the late 90's and it was about time that it got the respect it deserves. The film is well acted with a well put together story that gives me the chills every time I watch.
The film opens with John Russell(George C Scott) who is driving down a snowy road with his wife and daughter. The car breaks down and John walks to a phone for assistance. He is then forced to watch as his family is killed by a snowplow. The film takes place nearly a year later with John now a university music teacher moving out of his apartment, it is to small to handle his new job. His search for a large house is brought to Claire Norman(Trish Van Devere) who works for the historical society. John accepts the offer and is brought to his new home, a large towered Victorian style mansion. The house is fully furnished and includes a piano and a music room big enough for John's students to practise. Soon John begins to experience strange happenings in the house. John soon begins discovering the dark secrets buried in the house that date back almost 70 years ago.
The acting of the film is great for its small amount of characters. George C Scott delivers one of his best performances along with Trish Van Devere and Melvyn Douglas. Despite the little amount of characters in the story, the film develops them and makes them interesting.
The most significant aspect about The Changeling is the atmosphere. I am never going to forget the first shot of the house in the movie. The film does what horror films today should do, create atmosphere. There is nothing scary about a mindless slasher killer or a pool of blood every 10 minutes. The Changeling contains no blood, no gore and little violence yet it still is one of the creepiest films I have ever seen. Peter Medak understood that a spooky atmosphere is the key to truly chilling the audience. Take the séance scene for example. There is no jump scares or scary music needed to creep you out. Medak allows the scene to breath and allows the audience to become engrossed in the scene as if they were sitting alongside the characters. The film has plenty of scenes like this that continue to unnerve me.
If you are in the mood to watch an intelligent ghost story, see this movie. I wouldn't recommend watching it by yourself as this film has the tendency to linger with you, even after it's over. But hey, that's the sign of a great movie in my book!