On General Hospital, kids grow up fast. It's not because of a hard-knock life; it's because the writers infect them with SORAS (Soap Opera Rapidly Aging Syndrome). Michael Corinthos (Drew Garrett) was the first. It's no surprise that Alexis' and Sonny's daughter Kristina and Sonny's and Carly's other son, Morgan, have been quick to follow.
Aaron Refvem, a very cute kid, is the new Morgan, and Lexi Ainsworth, a pretty, sullen-looking teen, is the new, troubled Kristina. Ainsworth is sixteen going on seventeen, and has been performing since she was three years old. She has appeared on The Gilmore Girls, iCarly, and in several films.
Refvem looks to be about 8 and is quite the veteran, having appeared on Two and a Half Men, Grey's Anatomy, The Cleaner, and has two films coming out in 2009, one of which, Opposite Day, also features the previous Michael, Dylan Cash.
Whither go Michael, Morgan, and Kristina, also goes Molly, I'm sure. We should be hearing about her next.
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Will the Vampire People Please Leave the Lobby?
This book was found on the shelves in the office of a Buffy-loving coworker. I really loved it! I don’t know how exactly to explain it. A series of essays about fandom? Or internet fandom? Or, communities that spring up around TV shows. It wasn’t exactly about the Buffy 1-7 dvd box set fans in particular, but of course, prominent Buffy 1-7 dvd box set characters featured prominently. It seemed to be more about the internet, and community. Something that is near and dear to my heart, because of my involvement in NerdNYC.
My favorite sections of the book talked about how riled up and angry the author gets with interlopers and trolls in her community and the frustration she feels when the community gets all hugs and ponies about it, instead of the “Cut a Bitch” style that she (and I) favor.
I loved her story of the internet as a family. As a girl whose closest friends all now live within blocks and were met on the “interwebs” - I can relate.
In terms of Buffy 1-7 dvd box set- it was a little sad to hear that while she is in close touch with some of the writers, Joss really has no idea who she really is. But I loved how much credit she gives to the writers, and not the actors. And that she goes into fanfic, and who stories really belong to.
I wasn’t expecting to like this book much at all, but I found the writer engaging, funny and - the book just kind of hit a chord with me. The only criticism I would offer is that sometimes it felt a little disjointed - some stories were repeated, or characters reintroduced. You don’t need to be a Buffy fan to like the book (but I am sure it helps), but I think you definitely need to be an internet nerd.
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
My favorite sections of the book talked about how riled up and angry the author gets with interlopers and trolls in her community and the frustration she feels when the community gets all hugs and ponies about it, instead of the “Cut a Bitch” style that she (and I) favor.
I loved her story of the internet as a family. As a girl whose closest friends all now live within blocks and were met on the “interwebs” - I can relate.
In terms of Buffy 1-7 dvd box set- it was a little sad to hear that while she is in close touch with some of the writers, Joss really has no idea who she really is. But I loved how much credit she gives to the writers, and not the actors. And that she goes into fanfic, and who stories really belong to.
I wasn’t expecting to like this book much at all, but I found the writer engaging, funny and - the book just kind of hit a chord with me. The only criticism I would offer is that sometimes it felt a little disjointed - some stories were repeated, or characters reintroduced. You don’t need to be a Buffy fan to like the book (but I am sure it helps), but I think you definitely need to be an internet nerd.
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
BBC Babble - Hex marks the spot
A cute blond teenage girl with special powers wages war against demons of the underworld. Sound familiar? No, I’m not referring to Buffy 1-7 dvd box set, but rather Britain’s answer to Joss Whedon’s classic girl-power series. Hex lasted two short seasons from 2004-2005 and currently doesn’t air on BBC America. However, the first season is available on DVD.
I’ve reviewed a lot of shows here at the Babble, but Hex is my personal favorite. It helped extract me from my year-long Buffy 1-7 dvd box set withdrawal after Buffy closed out its magical run in 2003. The parallels between the two series are difficult to ignore, although Hex can’t hold a candle to Buffy Summers and her gang of monster-fighting chums. I’d call Hex a poor woman’s Buffy. It’s still worth checking out if you’ve never seen it. Allow me to explain.
Hex is set in Medenham Hall, a pastoral English school that resides on the same grounds where suspected witches were executed during the 18th century. Cassie Hughes, a shy social misfit, enrolls at Medenham but finds the going a little tough. Her mom is crazy, so the student body assumes Cassie is wacko too. Her only friend is roomie Thelma, a goth lesbian who digs Cassie in a big, big way. Turns out young Cassie is a witch and possesses clairvoyant and telekinetic abilities.
There’s even an “Angel.” Well, he’s a fallen angel named Azazeal, but he’s got a serious hankering for Cassie. The spawn of Azazeal and Cassie would be bad for humanity, so Azazeal sets his sights on knocking up the apple of his eye. In other news: Thelma becomes a ghost, a baby devil is born, demons start crashing the party on earth and an ancient “slayer” named Ella arrives to clean up the mess.
The show only ran 19 episodes. I could have used one more season, but it does come to a neat (and bloody) conclusion. A mix of witchcraft and Christian mythology is interwoven throughout the series. Medenham Hall is chock full of secretive artifacts that prove integral to the plots. There’s also a glut of sex, drugs, murder, enslavement and human sacrifice, which keeps matters very interesting. Thelma (Jemima Rooper) is largely comic relief as a nosy, scatterbrained ghost, but she saves the day on more than one occasion.
Overall, Hex is a pretty creepy series what with all the ghosts and ghouls floating around. The Buffy 1-7 dvd box set-esque themes of adolescent alienation and forbidden love are at the core, as is the never-ending battle between good and evil. Death and destruction dominate most of the installments. I applaud the creators for not being afraid to kill off major characters once they are no longer needed. It makes for some fine WTF moments. I miss Hex, but not as much as I miss Buffy. Where have all the sexy, sarcastic slayers gone? Television isn’t the same without them.
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
I’ve reviewed a lot of shows here at the Babble, but Hex is my personal favorite. It helped extract me from my year-long Buffy 1-7 dvd box set withdrawal after Buffy closed out its magical run in 2003. The parallels between the two series are difficult to ignore, although Hex can’t hold a candle to Buffy Summers and her gang of monster-fighting chums. I’d call Hex a poor woman’s Buffy. It’s still worth checking out if you’ve never seen it. Allow me to explain.
Hex is set in Medenham Hall, a pastoral English school that resides on the same grounds where suspected witches were executed during the 18th century. Cassie Hughes, a shy social misfit, enrolls at Medenham but finds the going a little tough. Her mom is crazy, so the student body assumes Cassie is wacko too. Her only friend is roomie Thelma, a goth lesbian who digs Cassie in a big, big way. Turns out young Cassie is a witch and possesses clairvoyant and telekinetic abilities.
There’s even an “Angel.” Well, he’s a fallen angel named Azazeal, but he’s got a serious hankering for Cassie. The spawn of Azazeal and Cassie would be bad for humanity, so Azazeal sets his sights on knocking up the apple of his eye. In other news: Thelma becomes a ghost, a baby devil is born, demons start crashing the party on earth and an ancient “slayer” named Ella arrives to clean up the mess.
The show only ran 19 episodes. I could have used one more season, but it does come to a neat (and bloody) conclusion. A mix of witchcraft and Christian mythology is interwoven throughout the series. Medenham Hall is chock full of secretive artifacts that prove integral to the plots. There’s also a glut of sex, drugs, murder, enslavement and human sacrifice, which keeps matters very interesting. Thelma (Jemima Rooper) is largely comic relief as a nosy, scatterbrained ghost, but she saves the day on more than one occasion.
Overall, Hex is a pretty creepy series what with all the ghosts and ghouls floating around. The Buffy 1-7 dvd box set-esque themes of adolescent alienation and forbidden love are at the core, as is the never-ending battle between good and evil. Death and destruction dominate most of the installments. I applaud the creators for not being afraid to kill off major characters once they are no longer needed. It makes for some fine WTF moments. I miss Hex, but not as much as I miss Buffy. Where have all the sexy, sarcastic slayers gone? Television isn’t the same without them.
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 6, Episode 9: “Smashed”
This is pretty much where the slump of Season 6 begins. I have no idea what I think of this season so far. I get why the pacing and tone are so so different. The stuff that is going on would have absolutely no meaning of it did not affect the tone of the show. But after a while it starts to drag you down as well. Even though it is the intended feeling, it’s not something I am completely huge on when it is not done right. This episode marks the beginning of some serious issues that the season has and when you combine the issues together into certain episodes it makes for an actively bad episode. While many think “Wrecked” is worse and while I think that episode has larger problems, I got pretty bored with “Smashed”. The end scene is definitely fantastic though.
Something I do really like about the episode are the parallels it draws between Buffy and Willow and the inability each of them have to connect with each other because of their isolation. They have the scene where Buffy 1-7 dvd box set wants to talk to Willow about what is going on with her and Spike but they really just are not connecting and are interrupted by Amy.
I don’t really care for Amy. Willow at this point is really incapable of understanding why Tara dumped her. I just really could not care less about their story in this episode. Their shenanigans at the Bronze were so trite and immature. Again maybe that’s the point but it came off as really lame.
Then we have Spike and his discovery that Buffy 1-7 dvd box set can be hit. This involved The Trio; lots of the Trio. Again I really was not that interested in any of this because I hate the Trio. Although I understand that it needed to happen; that Spike needed to find this out.
Besides the last scene which I really did like a lot as it had been building for ever now, I really liked the scenes with Tara and Dawn. Tara has proven to be more mature than most of the characters on this show and has grown into being own of my favorites. Her and Dawn were in the same outsider position in the show and Tara is really the only one that really understands how Dawn feels and she goes out of her way to spend time with her.
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
I really cannot remember a ton of the episode so that is all I have for this one.
Something I do really like about the episode are the parallels it draws between Buffy and Willow and the inability each of them have to connect with each other because of their isolation. They have the scene where Buffy 1-7 dvd box set wants to talk to Willow about what is going on with her and Spike but they really just are not connecting and are interrupted by Amy.
I don’t really care for Amy. Willow at this point is really incapable of understanding why Tara dumped her. I just really could not care less about their story in this episode. Their shenanigans at the Bronze were so trite and immature. Again maybe that’s the point but it came off as really lame.
Then we have Spike and his discovery that Buffy 1-7 dvd box set can be hit. This involved The Trio; lots of the Trio. Again I really was not that interested in any of this because I hate the Trio. Although I understand that it needed to happen; that Spike needed to find this out.
Besides the last scene which I really did like a lot as it had been building for ever now, I really liked the scenes with Tara and Dawn. Tara has proven to be more mature than most of the characters on this show and has grown into being own of my favorites. Her and Dawn were in the same outsider position in the show and Tara is really the only one that really understands how Dawn feels and she goes out of her way to spend time with her.
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
I really cannot remember a ton of the episode so that is all I have for this one.
And Now it’s Buffy Versus Bella!
First we had the Angel versus Edward debate. Now it’s all about Buffy versus Bella!
Roll up your sleeve, BCNN viewers/readers, because we’ve got a battle going on. In the Smith College student paper, the writer posits that “Twilight” vampires are merely eye candy, the whole story is just a rescue fantasy and at its core “Twilight” is mostly a polemic against premarital sex.
By contrast, Buffy’s relationships with her suitors – some vampires themselves – were always complex, scary and unresolved. Sort of like REAL teenage relationships!
Is Twilight merely a “lobotomized” version of the vampire myth? Is Bella a role model or not? Or is Buffy the one to emulate? “After all, Buffy 1-7 dvd box set may have had premarital sex with the undead, but she still managed to go to college and save the world from the apocalypse,” the paper said.
What do you think?
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
Roll up your sleeve, BCNN viewers/readers, because we’ve got a battle going on. In the Smith College student paper, the writer posits that “Twilight” vampires are merely eye candy, the whole story is just a rescue fantasy and at its core “Twilight” is mostly a polemic against premarital sex.
By contrast, Buffy’s relationships with her suitors – some vampires themselves – were always complex, scary and unresolved. Sort of like REAL teenage relationships!
Is Twilight merely a “lobotomized” version of the vampire myth? Is Bella a role model or not? Or is Buffy the one to emulate? “After all, Buffy 1-7 dvd box set may have had premarital sex with the undead, but she still managed to go to college and save the world from the apocalypse,” the paper said.
What do you think?
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
DVD review - Buffy season 4
Synopsis: Buffy starts behaving strangely after sharing a pitcher of Black Frost beer with a group of fellow college students at the campus pub where Xander bartends. (written by Tracey Forbes, airdate 11/2/99)
Ah, the much-needed lesson of drinking in college (albeit a little heavy handed on the moral lesson). Buffy 1-7 dvd box set learns the hard way that feeling all depressed over Parker (constantly daydreaming about getting back together with him) combined with underage drinking can lead to no-good. Especially when the no-good is augmented by a magical spell by the bar owner to the Black Frost beer that some know-it-all guys like to drink. Beer bad indeed. The episode quicky digresses into all Quest-For-Fire-y in no time flat. But it gives Xander, now with on-campus purpose as a bartender at the local pub, a chance to play the hero/protector. Amazing how he is such a master of "caveman-speak", isn't it? Willow, meanwhile, is all worried about Oz's newfound interest in mysterious singer Veruca. However, she is willing to talk to Parker and tell him exactly what he has done to hurt Buffy. She almost seems to totally get where he is coming from, but he then tries to make a move on her. Luckily our Willow is too smart to fall for that neanderthal way of thinking. But, when the converted caveboys crash, all hell breaks loose with fire and smoke. Even in cave-mode, Buffy 1-7 dvd box set recognizes a friend in need and plays the hero - even if she has a little fun doing it (clubbing Parker once - novel, clubbing Parker twice - hilarious). Hopefully she's now gotten him out of her system and can move on. There are plenty of great guys on campus if she just looks in the right place (like Riley, perhaps?).
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
Ah, the much-needed lesson of drinking in college (albeit a little heavy handed on the moral lesson). Buffy 1-7 dvd box set learns the hard way that feeling all depressed over Parker (constantly daydreaming about getting back together with him) combined with underage drinking can lead to no-good. Especially when the no-good is augmented by a magical spell by the bar owner to the Black Frost beer that some know-it-all guys like to drink. Beer bad indeed. The episode quicky digresses into all Quest-For-Fire-y in no time flat. But it gives Xander, now with on-campus purpose as a bartender at the local pub, a chance to play the hero/protector. Amazing how he is such a master of "caveman-speak", isn't it? Willow, meanwhile, is all worried about Oz's newfound interest in mysterious singer Veruca. However, she is willing to talk to Parker and tell him exactly what he has done to hurt Buffy. She almost seems to totally get where he is coming from, but he then tries to make a move on her. Luckily our Willow is too smart to fall for that neanderthal way of thinking. But, when the converted caveboys crash, all hell breaks loose with fire and smoke. Even in cave-mode, Buffy 1-7 dvd box set recognizes a friend in need and plays the hero - even if she has a little fun doing it (clubbing Parker once - novel, clubbing Parker twice - hilarious). Hopefully she's now gotten him out of her system and can move on. There are plenty of great guys on campus if she just looks in the right place (like Riley, perhaps?).
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
Commentary: Save this 'Terminator'
Everything you know about the world of Arnold Schwarzenegger's most famous character has changed.
In the season finale of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," John Connor, the boy destined to lead humanity's battle against Armageddon, gets jolted into the future -- the one he was supposed to lead. But here, he has no identity. No one has heard of him.
In this new future, he'll be fighting alongside his father, his uncle and a girl who looks just like the robot he came into the future to save. None of them has any idea who he is.
Confused? Don't be. It was a daring, surprising, brilliant cliffhanger for a show that's gained a loyal following, particularly among people like me who are in awe of it. It also opens the door to anyone who hasn't discovered this show yet, allowing for a fresh start.
Unfortunately, it may be too late. For fans, the big question is whether the "Chronicles" will be back, or canceled for inadequate ratings. We find out in a couple of weeks when Fox announces its schedule. The speculation online doesn't look good.
Ending on this Season 2 cliffhanger would be a shame.
When Fox picked up this "Terminator," it took on one of the most successful sci-fi franchises in modern entertainment history. It courted "Terminator" fans, as well as people like me who never gave much thought to the movies but appreciate deep, high-quality TV storytelling. Ending on this "what happens now" cliffhanger would leave a gaping hole in the franchise's history.
But of bigger concern, of course, is that "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" is just really good TV -- the kind that you want to believe can last. And that's thanks to Josh Friedman, the inspired executive producer.
For him, "Terminator" isn't about special effects and metal monsters. It's a family drama; a mother and son entrusted with a huge secret and the responsibility to change the future, no matter what the cost.
Without clobbering you with messages, Friedman gets you thinking -- about people whose secret struggles you can't know, about living with trauma and moving forward, about the strength and fragility of teenagers, and about the otherwise impossible things parents manage to do to protect their children. Sarah is parental adrenaline personified.
It's also a show about cancer. We know Sarah can successfully battle robots, evil people and well-meaning authorities who want her locked up. But will cancer ultimately do her in? Friedman has talked about the show serving as a catharsis for his own real-life battle against cancer.
Fans can't wait to find out what happens with Sarah (Lena Headey) in the new reality. Did she follow her son into the future? If not, what happened to her?
Friedman might be the best storyteller on TV right now. He packs episodes with twists you don't see coming but make sense in retrospect. He changes up his style, drops lead characters for entire episodes, uses biblical references left and right and delivers dialogue that's simultaneously believable and eloquent. He lets major characters die. And the show's directors coax subtle, nuanced performances from the actors.
You wouldn't guess any of this from Fox's promotions, which have focused too heavily on Cameron (Summer Glau), the robot who helps protect John Connor (Thomas Dekker), sending the signal that it's a show just for teenage fanboys. Cameron and John's relationship is actually a very clever exploration of something adults quickly recognize: the teenage boy with the mysterious girl who seems to have his best interest at heart but might be the most dangerous thing in his life. It's in some ways the reverse of "Buffy 1-7 dvd box set."
Speaking of which, Fox may have done better promoting "Chronicles" as a family drama and then pairing it with one, rather than "Dollhouse," the latest from "Buffy 1-7 dv d box set" creator Joss Whedon. (Insider question for fans: Is Josh Friedman the new Joss Whedon? Weigh in here or here.)
It's also not clear how, or if, the new movie "Terminator: Salvation" affects the show's chances of survival -- though strictly in terms of storylines, there's apparently no overlap and no conflict.
The weekly adventures of Sarah and John Connor just aren't done. There's too much unanswered, too much left to explore. So here's my pitch to network heads: You can still change the future. Don't terminate these "Chronicles" before their time.
What are your thoughts? Think Josh is right -- or misguided? Weigh in at Facebook or Twitter.
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
In the season finale of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," John Connor, the boy destined to lead humanity's battle against Armageddon, gets jolted into the future -- the one he was supposed to lead. But here, he has no identity. No one has heard of him.
In this new future, he'll be fighting alongside his father, his uncle and a girl who looks just like the robot he came into the future to save. None of them has any idea who he is.
Confused? Don't be. It was a daring, surprising, brilliant cliffhanger for a show that's gained a loyal following, particularly among people like me who are in awe of it. It also opens the door to anyone who hasn't discovered this show yet, allowing for a fresh start.
Unfortunately, it may be too late. For fans, the big question is whether the "Chronicles" will be back, or canceled for inadequate ratings. We find out in a couple of weeks when Fox announces its schedule. The speculation online doesn't look good.
Ending on this Season 2 cliffhanger would be a shame.
When Fox picked up this "Terminator," it took on one of the most successful sci-fi franchises in modern entertainment history. It courted "Terminator" fans, as well as people like me who never gave much thought to the movies but appreciate deep, high-quality TV storytelling. Ending on this "what happens now" cliffhanger would leave a gaping hole in the franchise's history.
But of bigger concern, of course, is that "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" is just really good TV -- the kind that you want to believe can last. And that's thanks to Josh Friedman, the inspired executive producer.
For him, "Terminator" isn't about special effects and metal monsters. It's a family drama; a mother and son entrusted with a huge secret and the responsibility to change the future, no matter what the cost.
Without clobbering you with messages, Friedman gets you thinking -- about people whose secret struggles you can't know, about living with trauma and moving forward, about the strength and fragility of teenagers, and about the otherwise impossible things parents manage to do to protect their children. Sarah is parental adrenaline personified.
It's also a show about cancer. We know Sarah can successfully battle robots, evil people and well-meaning authorities who want her locked up. But will cancer ultimately do her in? Friedman has talked about the show serving as a catharsis for his own real-life battle against cancer.
Fans can't wait to find out what happens with Sarah (Lena Headey) in the new reality. Did she follow her son into the future? If not, what happened to her?
Friedman might be the best storyteller on TV right now. He packs episodes with twists you don't see coming but make sense in retrospect. He changes up his style, drops lead characters for entire episodes, uses biblical references left and right and delivers dialogue that's simultaneously believable and eloquent. He lets major characters die. And the show's directors coax subtle, nuanced performances from the actors.
You wouldn't guess any of this from Fox's promotions, which have focused too heavily on Cameron (Summer Glau), the robot who helps protect John Connor (Thomas Dekker), sending the signal that it's a show just for teenage fanboys. Cameron and John's relationship is actually a very clever exploration of something adults quickly recognize: the teenage boy with the mysterious girl who seems to have his best interest at heart but might be the most dangerous thing in his life. It's in some ways the reverse of "Buffy 1-7 dvd box set."
Speaking of which, Fox may have done better promoting "Chronicles" as a family drama and then pairing it with one, rather than "Dollhouse," the latest from "Buffy 1-7 dv d box set" creator Joss Whedon. (Insider question for fans: Is Josh Friedman the new Joss Whedon? Weigh in here or here.)
It's also not clear how, or if, the new movie "Terminator: Salvation" affects the show's chances of survival -- though strictly in terms of storylines, there's apparently no overlap and no conflict.
The weekly adventures of Sarah and John Connor just aren't done. There's too much unanswered, too much left to explore. So here's my pitch to network heads: You can still change the future. Don't terminate these "Chronicles" before their time.
What are your thoughts? Think Josh is right -- or misguided? Weigh in at Facebook or Twitter.
Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com
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