21 September 2016: Another no-brainer good thing. Joss Whedon? Mark Ruffalo? Neil Patrick Harris? Tom Lenk? Julianne Moore? Daveed Diggs? And stopping the super villain who is running for president? I am all about that.
Showing posts with label Joss Whedon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joss Whedon. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Buffy, Adam, and Age
Just today I was talking with a friend at work about how I never really feel "old" or that I am getting older in any negative kind of way. He more or less agreed.
And just today, I was talking with another colleague about how a bunch of her students are Whedon fans. That got me thinking about what the Whedon-verse means for them (as people in their late teens/early 20s) versus what it meant and continues to mean for those of us who are a bit older. I wondered to myself how timeless Whedon shows are.
So there's all that kicking around in my head...
Then, just a few minutes ago, I had the Buffy episode "Goodbye, Iowa," on in the background as I got some work done. The scene where Adam (a demon/robot/man hybrid) inserts a floppy disk into his chest...man, did that feel dated. More dated then anything else I can think of on Buffy, at least in terms of emotional resonance. I mean, it is an almost ridiculous image. I think I remember people saying almost immediately after it aired that that including that part of Adam was a silly and a weird decision by the writers. I think it must be because technology--specifically computer technology--so obviously and visually shows its age.
And if Buffy is old, then maybe I am, in fact, getting a bit older.
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Oh well. I'm still okay with that. And again, there are all those young fans who still want to keep talking about these shows. I can deal with that, too.
And just today, I was talking with another colleague about how a bunch of her students are Whedon fans. That got me thinking about what the Whedon-verse means for them (as people in their late teens/early 20s) versus what it meant and continues to mean for those of us who are a bit older. I wondered to myself how timeless Whedon shows are.
So there's all that kicking around in my head...
Then, just a few minutes ago, I had the Buffy episode "Goodbye, Iowa," on in the background as I got some work done. The scene where Adam (a demon/robot/man hybrid) inserts a floppy disk into his chest...man, did that feel dated. More dated then anything else I can think of on Buffy, at least in terms of emotional resonance. I mean, it is an almost ridiculous image. I think I remember people saying almost immediately after it aired that that including that part of Adam was a silly and a weird decision by the writers. I think it must be because technology--specifically computer technology--so obviously and visually shows its age.
And if Buffy is old, then maybe I am, in fact, getting a bit older.
.jpg)
That ain't even a USB drive!
Oh well. I'm still okay with that. And again, there are all those young fans who still want to keep talking about these shows. I can deal with that, too.
Friday, April 27, 2012
The Cabin in the Woods
I saw The Cabin in the Woods earlier this week with a couple of friends. I had no idea what to expect and will just echo what everyone else is saying about it: the less you know going in, the better. And it's awesome. This blog post (by Joe Reid--from my favorite podcast, extrahotgreat) says a lot of what I might say about it (and better than I could!).
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"We need more vampire slayers--just not more Buffy"
You must give this article a read. The comments, too. It's pretty great.
I am surprised that the author (and the comment-leavers) haven't mentioned Veronica Mars, which was, I thought, a great heir to the Buffy tradition.
Yeah, I still miss Veronica Mars. Bad.
I am surprised that the author (and the comment-leavers) haven't mentioned Veronica Mars, which was, I thought, a great heir to the Buffy tradition.
Yeah, I still miss Veronica Mars. Bad.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Still an awful idea...
I've blogged about this before, but a new Buffy movie without Joss is an awful idea.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
TV Heaven...
I am trying to think of a recent night that offered anything comparable to tonight's two amazing TV events:
1) The penultimate episode of Lost. (Hope it's better than last week's episode, but even a bad episode of Lost is better than 90% of everything else on TV.)
2) The Joss-Whedon-directed episode of Glee, featuring special guest star Neil Patrick Harris. (Check out an interview with Joss about the episode here.)
The dilemma, of course, is that they both air at 9:00. Lost wins out. Thanks to my DVR, I'll watch Glee right after. After all, Glee is a good way to come down from an intense hour of Lost.
1) The penultimate episode of Lost. (Hope it's better than last week's episode, but even a bad episode of Lost is better than 90% of everything else on TV.)
2) The Joss-Whedon-directed episode of Glee, featuring special guest star Neil Patrick Harris. (Check out an interview with Joss about the episode here.)
The dilemma, of course, is that they both air at 9:00. Lost wins out. Thanks to my DVR, I'll watch Glee right after. After all, Glee is a good way to come down from an intense hour of Lost.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
TV, the biggest threat to tenure...
Some quick--and awesome--TV links...
1) Remember this post about the Joss Whedon-directed episode of Glee? Well, it only get's sweeter--Neil Patrick Harris (my love for him only grows stronger every day) might be guest-starring in that episode. It's like the people behind Glee are putting together an episode just for me! (Because the world works that way, right?)
2) Look, anyone who knows me knows that I am counting down the days until Lost's final season premieres. I am, I'll admit, a bit obsessed. But even I can appreciate how very funny this bit from The Onion is: "Final Season of 'Lost' Promises to Make Fans More Annoying Than Ever. "
3) And then there's this gem I just saw on Gawker: an adorable Italian family from Long Island recreates Lost in their living room (and basement). I want to hang out with this family.
1) Remember this post about the Joss Whedon-directed episode of Glee? Well, it only get's sweeter--Neil Patrick Harris (my love for him only grows stronger every day) might be guest-starring in that episode. It's like the people behind Glee are putting together an episode just for me! (Because the world works that way, right?)
2) Look, anyone who knows me knows that I am counting down the days until Lost's final season premieres. I am, I'll admit, a bit obsessed. But even I can appreciate how very funny this bit from The Onion is: "Final Season of 'Lost' Promises to Make Fans More Annoying Than Ever. "
3) And then there's this gem I just saw on Gawker: an adorable Italian family from Long Island recreates Lost in their living room (and basement). I want to hang out with this family.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Canceled...
So long, Dollhouse. For what it's worth, the show never really took off for me--lots of promise and potential, but always several steps from greatness.
Monday, October 26, 2009
More TV heaven...
So right now, Castle is on, always a fun TV treat given my love for Nathan Fillion. But my heart skipped a bunch of extra beats when A) Rick Castle put on a Mal Reynolds costume (he looks so good in that get-up), B) a few bars of the Firefly theme played, and C) he made a Buffy reference. So much geeky Joss Whedon love!
Here's the youtube clip (that is sure to vanish soon):
Here's the youtube clip (that is sure to vanish soon):
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Dr. Horrible at the Emmys
How awesome was this? This was (no fooling) one of the absolute highlights of my Sunday. (That is, perhaps, a bit sad...)
In other Whedonverse news: the Buffy Baby is here! (And she even has a normal name, another reason to love SMG.)
In other Whedonverse news: the Buffy Baby is here! (And she even has a normal name, another reason to love SMG.)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Two happy TV posts...
1) Some good news about characters from the Whedonverse: Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof have a brand-new baby girl.*
2) Friday Night Lights will be back--and here's the kicker--for TWO more seasons. This is amazing--way more than I could have dreamed for! If you aren't watching this show, you need to be. It's the best realistic drama on TV. Period.
*in other baby news...yay for Baby John!
2) Friday Night Lights will be back--and here's the kicker--for TWO more seasons. This is amazing--way more than I could have dreamed for! If you aren't watching this show, you need to be. It's the best realistic drama on TV. Period.
*in other baby news...yay for Baby John!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Dollhouse Premiere
Despite my enthusiasm for the show, for a bunch of reasons (including that nasty cold I mentioned below and a couple of very busy days), I actually only got around to watching the premiere of Dollhouse tonight. If you've heard any early buzz/reviews, you probably know that they've been mixed at best. And I've gotta say, if this show didn't feature the name Joss Whedon and some of his best cronies, I'd be a lot less eager to tune in for episode two. (The buzz on episode two, by the way, is that it is much stronger.)
With that said, here are some of my initial thoughts and reactions, some good, some bad, and some neither:
1) I will love Eliza Dushku forever for her amazing portrayal of Faith on Buffy and Angel. However, she isn't that great of an actress beyond that role (and I say this having watched all of Tru Calling, and trying to deny that she wasn't very good in it, either). The scenes where Eliza (as Echo) is "blank" (that is, not in a role she has been programmed to play) are especially painful to watch. Let's hope she improves or they start focusing more on the other Actives.
2) Topher is annoying. Is he supposed to be funny? This show's Xander? I don't see it. Plus, it's hard to like the guy who wipes the memories of these women (a process that looks painful).
3) Some of the standard-pilot-exposition/introduction-to-the-show's-mythology was especially clunky. Again, this sort of exposition dumping is kind of inevitable in a pilot episode, but I think Joss is capable of more. One egregious example: When asked if the procedure Echo just underwent was successful, Topher answers, "Why don't you ask Echo? Oh, right. You can't. Because she doesn't remember!" (or something like that). We get it--the procedure was a memory dump, but again, messy execution.
4) How awesome to see Amy Acker! Why is she only a guest star? Why can't she be a series regular?
5) Despite the criticisms above, there was plenty of vintage Joss to be found in this episode. I thought the exchange between Boyd and Echo when she (or was it Eleanor Penn?) remembers her own kidnapping was especially moving. The whole "you can't fight a ghost" theme is well...haunting.
6) I also loved when "Eleanor" is talking to Gabriel, the client, and relates her memory of being kidnapped. (And again--how can it be her memory if "Eleanor" doesn't really exist?) Gabriel, full of concern for his own child, mentions "the terrible memories these men put in your head" and asks "Why would they do that?" A great line with layers of meaning and ambiguity.
7) About halfway through, I really began to appreciate how different this show is from Buffy, Angel, or Firefly just in terms of setting. After all, Dollhouse takes place in a fairly realistic world (albeit one with advanced and improbable technology). No monsters, vampires, or futuristic space travel. That's strange for a Whedon show--and might take awhile to get used to. Not a complaint--just an observation.
7) How great was it to see the "Grr! Argh!" logo on TV again?
So that's all for now except for one final observation: early in the episode, Echo discusses the phrase "blank slate." "You ever try to clean an actual slate?" she asks. "You always see what was on it before." I wonder if Whedon fans see Dollhouse this way. It's a whole new show from our beloved Joss, but we can't help but mention it to what came before and are disappointed when lightening doesn't immediately appear to strike again.
P.S. Maybe all of this doesn't matter if, as indicated here, Joss is done with TV.
With that said, here are some of my initial thoughts and reactions, some good, some bad, and some neither:
1) I will love Eliza Dushku forever for her amazing portrayal of Faith on Buffy and Angel. However, she isn't that great of an actress beyond that role (and I say this having watched all of Tru Calling, and trying to deny that she wasn't very good in it, either). The scenes where Eliza (as Echo) is "blank" (that is, not in a role she has been programmed to play) are especially painful to watch. Let's hope she improves or they start focusing more on the other Actives.
2) Topher is annoying. Is he supposed to be funny? This show's Xander? I don't see it. Plus, it's hard to like the guy who wipes the memories of these women (a process that looks painful).
3) Some of the standard-pilot-exposition/introduction-to-the-show's-mythology was especially clunky. Again, this sort of exposition dumping is kind of inevitable in a pilot episode, but I think Joss is capable of more. One egregious example: When asked if the procedure Echo just underwent was successful, Topher answers, "Why don't you ask Echo? Oh, right. You can't. Because she doesn't remember!" (or something like that). We get it--the procedure was a memory dump, but again, messy execution.
4) How awesome to see Amy Acker! Why is she only a guest star? Why can't she be a series regular?
5) Despite the criticisms above, there was plenty of vintage Joss to be found in this episode. I thought the exchange between Boyd and Echo when she (or was it Eleanor Penn?) remembers her own kidnapping was especially moving. The whole "you can't fight a ghost" theme is well...haunting.
6) I also loved when "Eleanor" is talking to Gabriel, the client, and relates her memory of being kidnapped. (And again--how can it be her memory if "Eleanor" doesn't really exist?) Gabriel, full of concern for his own child, mentions "the terrible memories these men put in your head" and asks "Why would they do that?" A great line with layers of meaning and ambiguity.
7) About halfway through, I really began to appreciate how different this show is from Buffy, Angel, or Firefly just in terms of setting. After all, Dollhouse takes place in a fairly realistic world (albeit one with advanced and improbable technology). No monsters, vampires, or futuristic space travel. That's strange for a Whedon show--and might take awhile to get used to. Not a complaint--just an observation.
7) How great was it to see the "Grr! Argh!" logo on TV again?
So that's all for now except for one final observation: early in the episode, Echo discusses the phrase "blank slate." "You ever try to clean an actual slate?" she asks. "You always see what was on it before." I wonder if Whedon fans see Dollhouse this way. It's a whole new show from our beloved Joss, but we can't help but mention it to what came before and are disappointed when lightening doesn't immediately appear to strike again.
P.S. Maybe all of this doesn't matter if, as indicated here, Joss is done with TV.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Some more Whedon love...
A couple of Joss Whedon links:
1) Critical Studies in Television is beginning to collect some scholarly articles on Dr. Horrible. Oh for the time to really read these! And check out the way these folks are redefining scholarship--not just in terms of subject matter, but in terms of what
an article looks like (including youtube clips, etc.) Very exciting stuff.
2) Joss Whedon on NPR talking about Dollhouse. Other than the cringe-inducing headline (seriously--that's the best they could come up with?), it's a pretty decent read and gets me even more excited for Friday's premiere. Too bad I don't live close to Someday Phd anymore, as we could have a heck of a viewing party.
1) Critical Studies in Television is beginning to collect some scholarly articles on Dr. Horrible. Oh for the time to really read these! And check out the way these folks are redefining scholarship--not just in terms of subject matter, but in terms of what
an article looks like (including youtube clips, etc.) Very exciting stuff.
2) Joss Whedon on NPR talking about Dollhouse. Other than the cringe-inducing headline (seriously--that's the best they could come up with?), it's a pretty decent read and gets me even more excited for Friday's premiere. Too bad I don't live close to Someday Phd anymore, as we could have a heck of a viewing party.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Whedonesque Links
I'm posting a couple of Joss Whedon-themed links I've got in my bookmark list.
First, "Joss Whedon's Top Ten Writing Tips." These are great--good advice for any writer. That Joss is so good at giving this kind of advice shouldn't surprise any of his fans. Dude can write.
Second, "The Armchair Critic's 25 Best (and Five Worst) Angel Episodes." This list is a blast to read and made me want to watch all my DVDs again.
Armchair Critic's list also got me thinking about what I would put on my own list of best episodes...I don't have the time to do as detailed and thoughtful list as this guy does, but I did come up with my eighteen favorite.
Here are my three favorites, in order:
1) "Not Fade Away" (5.22): Best finale ever--sadly for a show that had so many more stories to tell. Wesley's death (comforted by Illyria), Lindsey killed by Lorne?!?, and so much more. And what a great last line: "Well, personally, I kind of want to slay the dragon. Let's go to work!" That's just good advice for life--we fight on, in the face of unbelievable odds, we go to work in this world because it's the right only thing we can do. Love it.
2) "Hero" (1.09): This one still gets me every time, although admittedly it's only the last few minutes that are superb. When Doyle takes Angel's place and becomes the hero, you want to stand up and cheer even as you dissolve into tears. Glenn Quinn's untimely death makes the episode and it's closing line, "Am I done?" even more wrenching. Here's the whole exchange from that scene, as he films a commerical with Cordelia (courtesy of the Buffyverse Dialogue Database):
DOYLE: If you need help. Then look no further. Angel Investigations is the best! Our rats are low.
CORDELIA: Rates!
DOYLE: (RE: cue cards) It says 'rats'. Our rates are low, but our standards are high. When the chips are down, and you're at the end of your rope you need someone that you can count on. And that's what you'll find here. Someone who will go all the way, who'll protect you no matter what. So don't lose hope. Come on over to our offices and you'll see that there's still heroes in this world. Is that it? Am I done?
Brilliant stuff--and here, so early on, one of the major themes of Angel is beautifully illustrated. (One more disclaimer: I named my cat after Doyle and that cat was one of the sweetest creatures I've ever known. I lost him too soon as a result of veterinary negligence and it still hurts to this day to think about it, which might explain a bit more why I love this episode so much.)
3) "I Will Remember You" (1.08): Boy, did I sob like a baby the first time I saw this one. And the second time...and well, just about every time. What to say about it? We see Buffy and Angel happy--blissful, but it doesn't last. And as she tearfully swears to him that she will never forget, the day resets and she forgets. The Oracles ask Angel if he can carry the burden being the only one to remember what he had and has given up and we know he can. Like the female Oracle, we realize "This one is willing to sacrifice every drop of human happiness and love he's ever known for another. He is *not* a lower being."
The rest are simply in chronological order--if I start commenting extensively, I'll be typing for hours:
"Rm w/a Vu" (1.05)
"Five by Five" (1.18)
"To Shanshu in LA" (1.22)
"Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?" (2.2)
"Darla" (2.7)
"Reunion" (2.10)
"Epiphany" (2.16)
"Lullaby" (3.9)
"Waiting in the Wings" (3.13)
"Sleep Tight" (3.16)
"Spin the Bottle" (4.6)
"Orpheus" (4.15)
"Hell-Bound" (5.4)
"Smile Time" (5.14)
"A Hole in the World" (5.15)
Fellow Angel fans, what do you think of these lists? Which episodes would be on your list? You can find a handy list of episodes here.
First, "Joss Whedon's Top Ten Writing Tips." These are great--good advice for any writer. That Joss is so good at giving this kind of advice shouldn't surprise any of his fans. Dude can write.
Second, "The Armchair Critic's 25 Best (and Five Worst) Angel Episodes." This list is a blast to read and made me want to watch all my DVDs again.
Armchair Critic's list also got me thinking about what I would put on my own list of best episodes...I don't have the time to do as detailed and thoughtful list as this guy does, but I did come up with my eighteen favorite.
Here are my three favorites, in order:
1) "Not Fade Away" (5.22): Best finale ever--sadly for a show that had so many more stories to tell. Wesley's death (comforted by Illyria), Lindsey killed by Lorne?!?, and so much more. And what a great last line: "Well, personally, I kind of want to slay the dragon. Let's go to work!" That's just good advice for life--we fight on, in the face of unbelievable odds, we go to work in this world because it's the right only thing we can do. Love it.
2) "Hero" (1.09): This one still gets me every time, although admittedly it's only the last few minutes that are superb. When Doyle takes Angel's place and becomes the hero, you want to stand up and cheer even as you dissolve into tears. Glenn Quinn's untimely death makes the episode and it's closing line, "Am I done?" even more wrenching. Here's the whole exchange from that scene, as he films a commerical with Cordelia (courtesy of the Buffyverse Dialogue Database):
DOYLE: If you need help. Then look no further. Angel Investigations is the best! Our rats are low.
CORDELIA: Rates!
DOYLE: (RE: cue cards) It says 'rats'. Our rates are low, but our standards are high. When the chips are down, and you're at the end of your rope you need someone that you can count on. And that's what you'll find here. Someone who will go all the way, who'll protect you no matter what. So don't lose hope. Come on over to our offices and you'll see that there's still heroes in this world. Is that it? Am I done?
Brilliant stuff--and here, so early on, one of the major themes of Angel is beautifully illustrated. (One more disclaimer: I named my cat after Doyle and that cat was one of the sweetest creatures I've ever known. I lost him too soon as a result of veterinary negligence and it still hurts to this day to think about it, which might explain a bit more why I love this episode so much.)
3) "I Will Remember You" (1.08): Boy, did I sob like a baby the first time I saw this one. And the second time...and well, just about every time. What to say about it? We see Buffy and Angel happy--blissful, but it doesn't last. And as she tearfully swears to him that she will never forget, the day resets and she forgets. The Oracles ask Angel if he can carry the burden being the only one to remember what he had and has given up and we know he can. Like the female Oracle, we realize "This one is willing to sacrifice every drop of human happiness and love he's ever known for another. He is *not* a lower being."
The rest are simply in chronological order--if I start commenting extensively, I'll be typing for hours:
"Rm w/a Vu" (1.05)
"Five by Five" (1.18)
"To Shanshu in LA" (1.22)
"Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?" (2.2)
"Darla" (2.7)
"Reunion" (2.10)
"Epiphany" (2.16)
"Lullaby" (3.9)
"Waiting in the Wings" (3.13)
"Sleep Tight" (3.16)
"Spin the Bottle" (4.6)
"Orpheus" (4.15)
"Hell-Bound" (5.4)
"Smile Time" (5.14)
"A Hole in the World" (5.15)
Fellow Angel fans, what do you think of these lists? Which episodes would be on your list? You can find a handy list of episodes here.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Dr. Horrible Controversy
Spoiler Alert: Don't read any further if you don't want the ending to Dr. Horrible ruined.
As a blogger at another site put it, "there's been some pushback on Dr. Horrible over the fact that he's [Whedon] once again killed over a female love interest in order to provide character development for male characters."Check out this post about some criticism of Penny's death in Act III--and Joss's response.
You can also read this post on feminism in Dr. Horrible. The writer makes some smart points, --although I must say that the lack of a female heroine isn't necessarily antifeminist. And, although I know people have argued about this for years, it doesn't make much sense to me to give Whedon a hard time about feminism since he is, after all, the man who gave us Buffy.
I have to admit that I never saw the twist coming and therefore appreciated the turn that the musical took. In fact, I think it's very important to the musical that neither man appreciated or really knew Penny--that that is something both Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer get wrong. However, I have an almost irrational soft-spot for all things Whedon and am not the fairest critic.
As a blogger at another site put it, "there's been some pushback on Dr. Horrible over the fact that he's [Whedon] once again killed over a female love interest in order to provide character development for male characters."Check out this post about some criticism of Penny's death in Act III--and Joss's response.
You can also read this post on feminism in Dr. Horrible. The writer makes some smart points, --although I must say that the lack of a female heroine isn't necessarily antifeminist. And, although I know people have argued about this for years, it doesn't make much sense to me to give Whedon a hard time about feminism since he is, after all, the man who gave us Buffy.
I have to admit that I never saw the twist coming and therefore appreciated the turn that the musical took. In fact, I think it's very important to the musical that neither man appreciated or really knew Penny--that that is something both Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer get wrong. However, I have an almost irrational soft-spot for all things Whedon and am not the fairest critic.
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