Kings Review!

http://www.givememyremote.com/remote/kings-a-mission-to-save-the-kingdom/

http://www.givememyremote.com/remote/kings-prosperity/ Wooooot!

Too bad the show is doing really, really crappy in the ratings.

Kings!!

So I have decided to make an official push to keep Kings on the air. I'm not sure how official it can be seeing as I have absolutely no clout whatsoever, but this is a show that I think needs to be allowed to develop for awhile longer.

For those of you that haven't watched it (which, given the ratings, would be a large majority) the story is set in the fictional kingdom of Shiloh. King Silas rules by divine right (bestowed upon him by a crown of butterflies, allegedly) and the country is currently at war with Gaff. Or Gath, I'm not entirely sure, since the sound on my TV sucks. The basic plot of the first two hours is that some soldiers get captured, and this young soldier goes to rescue them, and in the process becomes a national hero.

What's great about this show though is that the basic plot is by far not the only plot. Subplots include an illegitimate heir to the thrown, a crown prince with a secret, and a plot by the King's Brother-in-law to stay in power whatever the cost. Each plot is interwoven together, and I think the actors are doing a great job with the material they are given. I especially thought Jack did a great job with his storyline. *Spoiler Warning* I knew there was a gay character in the series that was unveiled in an "interesting" way, so I was kind of looking for it, but even if I hadn't been there is very little doubt after the first scene of Jack in the club where he stands. I think he and Ian McShane did a terrific job on the steps. You could see in his eyes this terror and hatred and agony when the King tells him what he knows. A lot of people are claiming Jack is this stereotypical character, and I don't believe he is. He's clearly fucked up in the head given his position and feelings, and it is expected that that would drive him to act out, but I don't think he's going to be the stereotypical villain. That title goes to the brother-in-law.

And Ian McShane did a terrific job the whole episode. That man can give a look that stops you in your tracks. See: when that chancellor stood up before his King.

Which leads me to my only complaint with this series: Some of the story elements are not handled with the most subtlety. The scene in the first ten minutes, when the religious guy (priest? cleric?) shows up at the David's farm and seemingly anoints him. That was just a little weird for me. And I don't even want to get started on the final scene of the second hour. I know they are trying to drive home a point that David is actually the destined King, but I would have appreciated something a little subtler that was left open to interpretation. I'm willing to forgive some of these things as necessary to set up the series. Like, they had to beat you over the head with the fact that David is destined so that they can be more subtle with his arc later on.

Also, I found a few of the plot points to be slightly obvious (namely who was responsible for the ambush. As soon as Jack came back and said "We had support" I knew where that story was headed). Again I'm willing to forgive some of these things as they set the stage. If they continue though, I'll get a little annoyed.

I think really, I came away from the episode not knocked off my feet with how amazing it was (a la Alias) but very, very intrigued to see where it goes next. My crusade to save the show is driven more by the fact that I don't want it to be cancelled prematurely. I hate when something new and original and entertaining gets dumped in favor of Extreme Makeover Home Edition and the Simpsons. Personally I think NBC should scrap Heroes and play Kings in its timeslot. The fantasy/sci-fi angle would match up sort of well with Chuck, and honestly Heroes is past its prime, but that's a whole other post waiting to happen.

In short, PLEASE WATCH.

Watchmen

Having read the book, I was expecting a long, pretentious, slow-moving storyline, and I was pleasantly surprised that the movie managed to avoid two of the three. Clocking in at almost 3 hours, Watchmen is anything but short, especially when one drinks a whole soda and has to pee for the second half of it. But I thought the movie managed to move faster, and be more interesting, than the book was. I don't know if it was the Black Freighter sections in the book that made the whole thing drag, or if it was the weird monster plot of the end, or if I just didn't like the art, but I walked away from the book kind of meh about the whole thing. The amount of hype that the book had going into it also didn't help. Nothing is that super fantastic coolness remarkable, especially if you hear from a hundred different places that it is that super fantastic coolness remarkable. Maybe I read it too long after the anti-super-hero had already become commonplace, who knows.

But overall I really enjoyed the movie. The action scenes were great (although the first one I found to be annoying as it more than a little indicated who the killer was. It was awesome, but kind of erased any doubt). The rest of the film moved along pretty well. I liked that they changed the ending, because I found the ending in the book to be kind of odd. I also liked how close to the book the movie was. Which sounds like a contradiction since I just said how much I disliked the book, but I like when movies are more literal interpretations of books, but with wiggle room for a widespread, public audience (this is why I hated Harry Potter 3 and 5). I found Dr.Manhattan to be less annoying in the movie, also. He never seemed so aloof to me in the book as belligerent, but Billy Cudrup did a great job of showing ever facial tic. I also liked Rorschach a lot more in the movie than the book. All in all the characters seemed much better developed, probably because the development of the story requires a degree of emotion that Moore's words did not capture for me. So in the end, I enjoyed the movie. It's probably the best movie I've seen this year (although Slumdog and Milk were both excellent. Sidenote: I hated the Wrestler).

Trailer Round-up: Seth Rogan as a mall cop? No thank you. Terminator? I'll see it, but not opening weekend. Star Trek? I don't want to like it, but I'll be there opening weekend. Wolverine? Same story as Star Trek.

WTF Episode 1

So I'm sitting here, watching Heroes (we'll let that slide for a second) and I get this phone call, that went exactly like this:

Me: Hello?
Woman: *slurring as if drunk* Is Matthew Baker there?
Me: Speaking
Woman: Matthew, I'm calling today to talk to you about lowering your credit interest rates.
Me: Thank you, but I'm ok.
Woman: *Offput, pauses* Well, are you still in credit card debt Mr.Baker?
Me: That's none of your concern, but thank you.
Woman: It is my concern. It's why I get up in the morning, and it's why I'll call you back tomorrow *Hangs up*

Uhm, what?

The best part of the whole phone conversation is that she was slurring the ENTIRE time.

Random Movie news

So, there has been lots of movie news the past few days, and I feel it is my duty to compile it into one place.

1) Most awesome news ever? That Jake Gyllenhaal is going to be in a musical. Wearing baseball pants.

I'm not sure he can sing, but I'm not sure I care.

2) Horrible and appalling news? This. Drr, WHAT?

3) Nonsensical news which is separated by two degrees to number 1? A sequel to a movie that shouldn't have a sequel.

Those were the three things that made me take notice. If I find more I'll share them.

While I don't care much about the message...

it's hard to argue with the imagery.

Well, I care about bears, but in sort of a passive way. I don't see why they couldn't use fake fur for the hats, but whatever.

Oscar Picks!

So I love the Oscars a lot, cause it's a huge deal. Above and beyond fashion, I enjoy seeing all the stars. So below are my picks for the big categories:

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

This is the first year I've actually seen all 5 of the nominees before the show starts. I think Milk and the Reader were really good, but Slumdog was a more enjoyable watching experience. Frost/Nixon was very interesting but not as good as Milk. I would be content if Milk won, but if Benjamin Button wins I will freak the hell out. That movie was pretentious Shite.

Best Actor, Leading: Sean Penn

I thought Frank Langella did a good job as Nixon, but Sean Penn was absolutely fantastic as Harvey Milk. Lots of people think Mickey Rourke is going to win, but I can't stand Mickey Rourke, and I don't think he deserves credit for a comeback because I keep telling myself it's not happening.

Best Actor, Supporting: Heath Ledger

Note that I don't think Ledger should win, but I think he will win. Not that I didn't very much enjoy his performance, but I'm kind of done with all the "oh noes he died" shit. I didn't enjoy Brokeback Mountain enough, I guess. Robert Downey, Jr. definitely shouldn't win (and I have no clue why he was even nominated. Was it seriously the black face?). I haven't seen Revolutionary Road, so I can't really judge that. Josh Brolin was good, but not amazing. Same with Hoffman. I guess by default I'd vote for Ledger. Nevermind then.

Best Actress, Leading: Kate Winslet

Winslet made the Reader fantastic, and frankly she is at her peak right now. If she can't get the Oscar now, when can she get it? Meryl Streep was excellent in Doubt, but I'd like to see it go to someone new. Not that I'd be upset if Meryl won at all. I haven't seen the other three, but from what I've heard this makes the most sense. I've heard Angelina is so-so in the Changeling, and I've heard Anne is good but I'm still expecting/hoping Winslet will win.

Best Actress, Supporting: Viola Davis

In this category, I chose who I want to win, although I don't think she will. I thought her performance in Doubt was absolutely fantastic and moving. I haven't seen Vicky Cristina Barcelona because I don't like Woody Allen, but I wouldn't be surprised if Penelope Cruz won. I don't care for her really, and I don't know why. Amy Adams is a terrific actress but I wouldn't give it to her for Doubt, because she is better than that role (which was very good, nonetheless). I'm not voting for Marisa Tomei because she was in Mickey Rourke's comeback movie and I've already stated how I feel about that. I think it's exciting that this category is so up in the air.

The other categories just aren't so important, I think. Hollywood people care about Best Director, but I just don't. I think Slumdog will get that, though. Best Animated has to go to Wall-E. As far as I'm concerned that movie should have gotten a best pic nom instead of Frost/Nixon. Best song I want to be one of the songs from Slumdog, and all the art and art direction shit I can't be bothered with.

I'm so excited! I'll post my final score off the official Oscar Ballot, to see how well I do. Brian always does better than me, but maybe this year. Maybe!

PS - What the hell is wrong with Lisa Rinna's upper lip? Botox gone wrong!