Fall TV Madness

I must start off by saying that I don't have cable at home. Not even the basic variety with those three Canadian channels and the fuzzy-static porn one late at night. (Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. We were all thirteen once)

So I kinda have a valid reason for posting so late about the new TV season. I don't watch as many shows as before (I do have somewhat of a social life) but the ones I do have time to watch are kick fucking ass. Like Hilary Swank said recently: TV is where the good writing is at these days. Don't believe me? Take a look:


GOTHAM

What it's about: Gotham is not exactly a superhero show but it's not exactly a procedural either. And somehow, it's also not confused. It borrows from both world without being greedy and places one foot ahead of the next very carefully. However, it is very much an origin story and follows the rules very tediously. Bruce Wayne is still a child as is Selena Kyle and Ivy Pepper (based on Poison Ivy); Penguin still holds on to a bit of sanity while Edward Nigma (The Riddler) is slowly losing his; the mafia is slowly finding it's footing and James Gordon is just starting to realize just how corrupt Gotham really is.
Production: The man behind Gotham is Bruno Heller, who also created Rome and The Mentalist. He also wrote two of my favourite episodes so far: "Selena Kyle" and "Penguin's Umbrella". The show started with a 13 episode run, but thankfully that got bumped up to 22 episodes.
Starring: Ben Mackenzie, Donal Logue, Robin Lord Taylor, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Why it's hot: Because it's an origin story. Because it is full of nods to the Tim Burton era. Because you can literally picture some scenes as comic panes. Because Jada Pinkett Smith. Because the writing is superior than most movies. Because!!


AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAKSHOW

What it's about: A new season of AHS signifies a new storyline, a new American tale to be told in a macabre fashion. Freakshow tells the story of a bunch of - wait for it - freaks, who must learn to love themselves in a world where everyone fears them. There are multiple storylines but true to AHS, they will slowly and surely blend together. And what a show it will be!
Production: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk are TV Gods. Together they made Nip/Tuck one of TV's hottest dramas and managed to recreate some of that TV magic with AHS. This magic, however, would be impossible to manipulate if not for production designer Mark Worthington's skillful knowledge of the different eras. His eye was made for details! PS: Neil Patrick Harris is slated to appear in a cameo role!
Starring: Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Emma Roberts, Frances Conroy, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Michael Chiklis, Denis O'Hare, Finn Wittrock, and Gabourey Sidibe.
Why it's hot: Because did you read that casting list? Ok, enough said.


THE 100 (season 2)

What it's about: Earth has been destroyed because of the greed of men. The elite managed to escape in time and find shelter in space. Now a century later, the Sky People go back down to Earth to evaluate it's sustainability. What they do not know is that not all mankind was wiped out. And now an epic war for territory and power threatens to claim all of their lives.
Production: Considering the scope of the show and the overall epicness of it's storyline, the production team is relatively small. A few producers, a handful of writers, and a small crew of producers. That's it. I was expecting a sh*tload of useless heads with dollar signs for eyes, but nope. And Canadian bonus: the show is shot on location in Vancouver! (as if we couldn't tell by the panoramic shots of our beautiful motherland!)
Starring: Eliza Taylor, Paige Turco, Bob Morley, Marie Avgeropoulos, Ricky Whittle, Isaiah Washington, Henry Ian Cusick.
Why it's hot: Because it is clearly correcting the mistakes that LOST did with it's broad storyline of "we are all others." Because Ricky Fucking Whittle. Because of the cinematography. Because of the mystery and the "a-ha!" moments. Because Paige Turco AKA April O'Neal is in it. Because Ricky Fucking Whittle.


THE WALKING DEAD (season 5)

What it's about: Are you living under a rock? Do I have to explain? Ok ok. It's about humanity and how fucking greedy and selfish we are. It's about the dark side of man, that side we only show when there's one fry left in our plate and we see someone who is hungry but eat the fry anyway. Except with zombies and shit.
Production: The show was developed by Frank Darabont but unfortunately, he walked out after one season and has since been replaced by different showrunners with none as excellent as Scott M. Gimple. He took the reigns as of Season 4 and managed to make the show exiting again, after a slow and disappointing season 3. Viewership went up as did the action and the character development. Gimple really managed to breathe new life into...well...the dead.
Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Seven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, Emily Kinney.
Why it's hot: Because season 5 sees more of Carol and Beth. Because we finally meet The Hunters. Because it's gore as fuck. Because we see less of Rick. Because Carl finally has a purpose. Because we see Abraham and Rosita getting it on.


And that pretty much sums it up for my Fall viewing habits. If you haven't started any of these shows and you're not some super busy human being with priorities and stuff, you have no excuse not to start these. Why are you still reading this? Get on it! Go, watch TV, warp your mind!

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

Orphan Black: One of a Kind

If you are a fan of science-fiction, badass chicks, illegal experimentation, or you are simply a Canadian, then you surely have heard of Orphan Black. If you have not, you either live under a rock or are too busy recruiting zealots for The Proletheans. So sit down, grab some popcorn and read why Orphan Black is TV's hottest new show!

**This post may contain spoilers.


Same Chick, Different DNA

Orphan Black can seem confusing at first, especially when you try to explain it without spoilers. No worries, the whole premise of Orphan Black is laid out frantically by fan-favourite Alison Hendrix, one of many lead characters played by Tatiana Maslany, in the third episode of the first season. So you won't have to wait long to know why Alison looks like Beth who looks like Sarah who looks like Katia who looks like Rachel who looks like Cosima who...well, you get it. All these chicks are running around trying to figure out why they look alike and although it may seem cliché at first, the writers find enough wit between them to branch out of the mould (pun intended), once the secret is revealed. So take note, Maslany plays ALL of these characters. And the acting is beyond incredible.


Location Shots

Being from Canada and having visited Toronto multiple times, it's quite fun to catch glimpses of the city being passed off as Minnesota or a generic North American town. It is never explicitly revealed that the setting is in Toronto, with no mention of the city ever being dropped by characters, but there are several key buildings and artifacts that mark it as a product of the maple leaf.

• Cars have clear Ontario licence plates;
• They use money that can be identified as Canadian;
• They mention nearby Canadian cities (and mock the suburbs);
• Bridgepoint Health (Holla University of Toronto!) is used as the Dyad Headquarters. So is Don Jail;
• Jim's Restaurant is used as the meeting point for Helena and Sarah (both played by Maslany.)
• Check out this link for more on-screen clues.

   

"That Shakira-Haired Look-A-Like"

Helena is quite possibly the most terrifying "bad guy" to ever be introduced to television. Contrary to all the other characters played by Maslany, Helena was raised to believe that she was flawed, a product of evil, and that she must eradicate all the other look-a-likes. But like all good villains, Helena is self-tortured, corrupted, and confused. Add that to her manic hair-do and *batshitcrazy* attitude, and guys, you have yourself TV's most fucked up villain.



The Proletheans

It's hard to talk about these weirdos without spoiling too much and I really want everyone to watch this show without knowing all of the details. But these guys are the creepiest group of people to roam TVland since The Others. They do terrible things in the name of religion and then believe that they are righteous and above everyone else. They are basically the Westboro Baptist Church. How fucking creepy is that! They're like...an Amish mafia.




Evelyne Brochu

Evelyne Brochu may not be recognized outside of La Belle Province but here in Québec, she's a household name, notably appearing in Aveux and Polytechnique. She guest-stars in the first season and is promoted to the main cast for the second season. Although she is a native of Québec, her characters is of French decent and she pulls off the French accent effortlessly. She eases her way into the dramatic narrative and cements her place by the end of season 1.



Product Quality

If you've watched the show, that sub-header is a Big Pun (aha that was also a pun. You know, the rapper?! Nevermind.) I don't like bashing home-grown products but Canadian television is usually crap. Like below crap. Quality is just not there and there is no standard in television producing. Yeah, Orphan Black not only changed the rules of the game, it created new ones. The technology and the effects on this show are comparable to none, and above all. The way Maslany interacts with herself as different characters in one scene is breath-taking. Peter Jackson should take note.

Honorable Mentions:

• Jordan Gavaris as Felix;
• The pacing of this show has more adrenaline than 24;
• Vic the Dick.

From the minute you start the show until it's incredible season 2 finale, you will be left breathless and heaving, scratching the screen for season 3 to start. I swear you will not be dissapointed!

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink.

11/22/63 Fantasy Cast

Wow. It's been so long since I actually opened this account, let alone write an entry. But I was so excited when I found out that Hulu was working on a web series based on 11/22/63 by Stephen King, that I just couldn't contain myself any longer. Guys, another King series!!


So it's very easy to get lost when adapting a book to the small screen. I find it almost more painful to watch than a silver screen adaptation that robbed the gold from the soul of my favourite book. If it can't be adapted into something better, than don't touch it. Right?

And I am so biased when it comes to King adaptations because frankly, they can't go wrong. They just can't. There is too much framework and solid foundations in Stephen King's body of work that it's almost impossible to fuck it up. People have been adapting King novels for over three decades, ranging from Carrie to The Shining and without forgetting the abysmal yet still entertaining Storm of the Century.

Lately, King has been dropping bricks for novels and his two latest projects, Under the Dome and 11/22/63, have both been critical and commercials successes. Under the Dome was not only a fantastic book, but Brian K. Vaughn (peace be upon him) also managed to make it into a top-rated TV drama which saw it change major key elements that grounded the book in science-fiction, while still retaining that very quirky side of King that either makes or breaks the tone of the work.

I'm just thinking about It, where King's macabre view on childhood was mixed with a somewhat comical view on adulthood. It was a perfect blend of horror and slapstick. Or how about Pet Sematary, where we have zombie cats and murderous children all wrapped up in the same movie. It blended scare and laughs brilliantly.

With that being said, I hope they keep the quirky style that has been attributed to King while not being afraid of exploring the macabre and mysterious point of view of one of America's most recognized author.

You can read my Under the Dome Fantasy Cast blog entry here and see how my wishlist did not come to life. At all. lol. Still wish they had picked better actors. Buggers.

Now on to my top ten list of characters I believe should carry forward with the adaptation and which actor I would like to see portray them. Enjoy!


Milo Ventimiglia as Jake Epping AKA George Amberson

Jake Epping is the protagonist of this time-travelling story but also the antagonist, in the sense that he is creating all of these problems by changing what was. And who better to play Happy-Yet-Sad than Milo Ventimiglia, the king of the happysad face. He also has the ability to play older and younger quite well as evidence by his portrayal of Peter in Heroes. Overall, Milo has the sex appeal and charm to carry the weight of a character that is both troubled and optimistic, both in the past, the present, and the future. Take note Hulu, I want Milo.


Gemma Arterton as Sadie Dunhill

Sadie Dunhill is the typical 60's woman; soft, gentile, and loyal to her man. And what is great about this character is her willingness to become a modern woman; a desire that sets off a chain of events that puts Jake's mission in jeopardy. King has always been good at writing strong female characters, and he doesn't disappoint this time again. So it took all of one second to think of Gemma Arterton in this role: she's young, she's soft-spoken, and she can pull off the complexity of Sadie's character.


Hal Holbrook as Al Templeton

Al Templeton is the man that starts the fire but doesn't stay around to see its path of destruction. He's a very mysterious character and has a small but pivotal role in the novel. That is why I hope they expand his role for the Hulu adaptation. So many questions derive from this character: how did he find the timeloop? What does he know about the future that makes him so determined to send Jake, specifically, to the past? Why doesn't he keep this for him and take over the world? I know Holbrook is on the verge of dying but this man is flawless when it comes to drama and mystery. He has the face for it! Somebody give this man a role with substance!!


Scott Patterson as Deke Simmons

If the term "Bromance" had existed in the 60s, Deke Simmons and Jake's relationship would have been the perfect embodiment of it. Deke is not only Jake's best friend in Jodie circa 1960, but he's also his confident and helps Jake move along in his mission. I have a soft spot for Deke because he just doesn't know how to be mean-spirited. If there was ever a character that gave me hope for humanity, it's Deke Simmons. Scott Patterson has those charming eyes that would make anyone believe in him. And yes, another The Event alumni on the list.


Monica Potter as Mimi Corcoran

Mimi Corcoran is an odd character in the sense that she doesn't fit the 60's Texas era. I always suspected that Mimi knew more than she let on about Jake/George and the whole timeloop but it's never explicitly written in the novel. So I really hope they cast a big name to play this part and expand her character to someone more dubious or all-knowing. And I'm a sucker for Monica Potter's dramatic timing and southern flare.



Derek Luke as Harry Dunning

Harry Dunning is the janitor at the school that Jake works at prior to him jumping back in time. He's a very soft-spoken, quiet man who shares his childhood horror story with Jake, which touches the latter's heart so much that he jeopardizes his mission in the past to reconcile Harry's traumatic and violent childhood. During this time, Jake stumbles upon the kids in Derry. You know, the same kids who battled an evil clown in another King novel... Plus it would be the perfect role for Derek Luke, since he still has those boyish looks even though he's far from being a boy.


Lili Taylor as Ellen Dockerty

Ellen Dockerty is the quintessential stuck-up teacher that everyone had at least once in their lifetime. She plays by the book and her loyalty to the rules of life are challenged when she meets George/Jake in Jodie circa 1960. It takes a special kind of charm to pull off this kind of character because Ellen is both tough yet maternal, impulsive yet instinctive. And Lili Taylor proved more than once that she can play a character with dual personalities. Mel Gibson's Ransom, anyone?



Michael Stahl-David as Lee Harvey Oswald

This is where it gets interesting. Lee Harvey Oswald is the man responsible for gunning down and assassinating former president, and civil rights activist, John F. Kennedy. King's approach to this historical event is both well-researched and thoroughly detailed. Although he manages to humanize Oswald, he also doesn't back down from the hard facts: Oswald was deranged and believed himself to be a messiah of sorts. It won't be easy to play this part, but I believe Michael Stahl-David would be perfect at portraying Oswald, insanity and all. Whoever gets cast will surely have a lot of material to work with so I'm expecting a flawless performance for this part.


Sarah Roemer as Marina Prusakova

Another The Event alumni! Sarah Roemer is the only person I had in mind when thinking of Marina Prusakova, Oswald's mouthy yet loyal Russian bride. She stole my heart with her portrayal of Leila in The Event, and I'm hoping she does the same as Prusakova. It's going to be a tough part to play since the role Prusakova played in the assassination is both theoretical and documented, with everyone agreeing that she was kept in the dark about it all. I hope they venture with this role and flesh out the character of Prusakova as she was both the lover and the confident of Lee Harvey Oswald. Nobody knew him like she did.


Gil Bellows as James Hosty

James Hosty is the real life detective who worked on the JFK assassination and King took that ambiguity (a lot of conspiracy theorists believe Hosty played a part in the assassination) to insert Hosty into the narrative of 11/22/63. Throughout the novel, it is implied that Hosty has some sense of what is going on with Jake/George and every good mystery show needs a snoopy detective. And Gil Bellows personifies that characterization flawlessly. If nobody in this list gets cast except one, I hope it's Gil Bellows.


Agree or disagree with this fantasy cast? Either way, I think King fans are in for a treat! :)


Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

American Horror Story - Asylum: A Premiere Review

So the second season of American Horror Story premiered last Sunday but I didn't know about it until yesterday. I'm so not up-to-date on TV this year! But regardless, I got to watch the premiere and what a premiere it was!

I was a little bit skeptical of the second season, since the first one was fucking awesome! When they announced a cast switch-up after the season finale of season one, the fans were often dragged back and forth concerning the casting. Earlier reports stated the return of certain cast members and then they said the cast would return playing other characters, and finally only some of the cast came back in different roles.

The premiere was flawless. Although it was a bit tricky to follow the storylines at first, the slow reveal of certain mysteries helped to clarify any doubts I had early on. AHS has that talent of dragging you alongbrutally with your consent.
There are multiple storylines, once again, all unfolding in one location: a mental asylum.

We have the story of two twisted lovers (Jenna Dewan and Adam Levine) exploring the asylum in modern times. Teresa (Dewan) explains certain facts about the abandonned hospital and helps us establish the past of the asylum. She has a fetish for practising sexual activities in dark, horrifying places. Her boyfriend, Leo (Levine), follows her into the hospice and both get a taste of darkness.

Sometime in the 60's, shortly after JFK's inauguration, we follow the story of Sister Jude and Dr. Arthur Arden (Jessica Lange and James Cromwell) who both run the asylum although they do not seem to get along. Sister Jude (Lange) is a nun with a pious heart. She runs the asylum with an iron fist based on zealous religious beliefs. She's shown to be ruthless when she holds a journalist (Sarah Paulson) against her will when Sister Jude finds Lana (Paulson) wandering around the asylum.

 

And finally we have the story of Kit Walker (Evan Peters) who is also known as Bloody Face, since he was allegedly seen leaving the crime scene wearing a mask made of bloodied skin. He is brought to Briarcliff Asylum to be taken care of by Sister Jude until he goes to trial. He swears he did not kill his wife, Alma (Britne Oldford), and that he is not crazy. He believes (and we are shown) that in actuality, his homestead was attacked by an unseen creature that may or may not be aliens. Inside the asylum, he befriends a woman named Grace (Lizzie Brocheré), who is also accused of murdering people she loved and equally claims to be sane.

Behind all of these stories lies Monsignor Timothy Howard (Joseph Fiennes), the man whose vision inspired Sister Jude to turn the asylum into a pastry factory and who brought Dr. Arden (Cromwell) to the hospital so he can find a cure for tuberculosis. We see him briefly discussing with Sister Jude, who fantasizes of giving herself to him, and reassuring her that the mysterious and sometimes spooky Dr. Arden is not to be worried about.

 

The main plotlines all revolve around religion and mental illness, and how the ignorance of our past harms us more then we know. There is alot of sex/sexual references in this series and the creepy, edgy factor of season one was not lost in the change. I love that they inserted the music from the original Carrie into the season premiere - it really gave it that extra fear factor.

Here's a teaser for you to watch!

 

 

 

You can catch the show on FX, wednesdays at 10PM or do like me an watch it here. Hope you're not afraid of the dark!

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink


 

Under The Dome Fantasy Cast

I'm such a procrastinator. This post was meant for last week.

Stephen King novels are perfect foundations for movies or television series: Frank Darabont made a career out of adapting King novels into succesful movies (The Mist, The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile); Carrie (1976) saw two of its stars nominated for Academy Awards (Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie). The Shining turned Jack Nicholson into a household name.


And so it was pretty delightful to learn that there is whispers of a possible Under The Dome television adaptation. The story centers around Dale Barbara, an army veteran who is called back into duty when Chester's Mill - a sleepy cottage town - is suddently, and inexplainably, shut off from the rest of the world. A forcefield nicknamed "The Dome" is sealing off the residents of Chester's Mill creating political envy, deadly powertrips, and hallucinations of Halloween.

Showtime has expressed interest in broadcasting the series but nothing is set in stone as of now.

This "Top Ten" list serves two purposes: Listing the ten characters I find interesting enough to be carried forward into the series AND assigning them an actor I see portraying the character in question.


John Goodman as "Big" Jim Rennie
Big Jim is a used car salesman, in every sense of the word. He is on city council and runs it with an iron fist. The most evil son-of-a-bitch i've ever seen in print. Once he realises the benefits of being sealed off from the world, he doesn't hesitate to abuse of them.

John Goodman would be perfect as the cunning yet short-tempered Jim Rennie. He's proved he could be versatile and he could pull off the charming sarcasm that rolls off Big Jim's fat ugly tongue!

Greg Kinnear as Dale "Barbie" Barbara

Barbie is fairly new to the town and gets to know - and befriend - the locals of Chester's Mill through his job as a cook at Sweetbriar Rose's. But when the town is sealed off and murders begin while bodies pile up, fingers are pointed and most are pointed straight at Barbie.

I can only picture Greg Kinnear when I think of Barbie. Not everyone could pull off the name Barbie and still look tough doing so. I have a feeling Kinnear could do that; he still carries boyish looks while maintaining an air of maturity. He would murder this part. No pun intended.



Patricia Heaton as Julia Shumway
Julia Shumway is the town reporter and Barbie's strongest ally. She has serious balls and demonstrates it time and time again; negotiating deals with the upper echelon of the army, advocating Barbie's innocence, and going against the supreme fuckin' ruler, Big Jim.

This one was actually a toss up between Heaton and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. But I went with Patricia Heaton because she has that imposing energy that Julia Shumway portrays. She could bring forth the character's brash approach to situations.



Topher Grace as Junior Rennie
Junior is not feeling so well lately. He suffers migraines that lead him to do unspeakable things that changes the town forever. Along with his dad, Junior Rennie helps to create a blanket of fear over the town and quickly emerges as Chester's Mill's most disturbed resident.

I can't remember exactly when I thought of Topher Grace playing Junior, but he would fit perfectly well in Junior's skin. He has that odd, creepy factor about him when he tries. And it's about time Grace comes back to television!!



Adam Scott as Eric "Rusty" Everett
Rusty is a paramedic-turned-doctor-under-crisis and general cool dude in town. He has a pretty laid back attitude but only before the "Dome" comes down over Chester's Mill. When he realises the schemes of power-hungry Jim Rennie, Rusty begins an investigation into the cause of this "Dome".

Adam Scott embodies the laid-back stereotype; shaggy hair, squaggly limbs, and dopey eyes. And he's proven his acting chops in drama (The Vicious Kind).



Ivana Milicevic as Linda Everett
Just another "tiddy cop" according to Big Jim. Linda is Rusty's wife and mother of his two kids. She also serves as an acting police officer but once the town becomes a playing ground for Jim Rennie, her loyalty is put in question.

There are several underused actors out there and Ivana Milicevic is one of them. She would play the protective mother type brilliantly! She's sweet yet stern when need be. If this character is well developped in the series, Ivana Milicevic could emerge as the shining star. (Biased! I love Ivana's work and Linda's character)


Kevin Durand as Peter Randolph
The dumb ass deputy who inherits the reigns of Chester's Mill Police Department when Sheriff Duke Perkins dies mere moments after the "Dome" covers the town. He follows Big Jim's every orders without question, leading him to act in unsheriff like ways.

Kevin Durand was on LOST and I hated his character so much! And when Peter Randolph sank deeper into Rennie's twisted plot, I couldn't help but to think of Durand. No offense Kevin Durand, but you seem like you could play a sheep looking for its shepherd quite effortlessly.



Glenne Headly as Reverend Piper Libby
There is something to say about Stephen King's rather comic portrayal of religious figures in his novel. They are either zealous (Reverend Lester Coggins) or rather disgruntled towards God. as is Reverend Piper Libby. I personally find her character compelling and charming, if only because of her odd relationship with God ("Hey Not-There!").

Glenne Headly was Tess fucking Trueheart in Dick Tracy. Just like I pictured Kinnear as Barbie, Headly is the first image I had of Piper Libby. Looks all sweet and innocent but packs a mean punch!



Chandler Canterbury as Joe McClatchey
Joe is a thirteen year old boy who sees the corruption before anyone else. He's rebellious at heart but tackles the difficult task of seeking the source of the "Dome".

Canterbury seems to be everywhere lately, appearing in Knowing, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and has television appearences in Fringe and Criminal Minds. He's the right age and could easily play the part of the rampant teen. Anyone BUT the kid who plays Carl in The Walkind Dead.



Samaire Armstrong as Samantha "Sammy" Bushey
By far the most touching character in the entire story - and there is a shitload of characters. Sure, she lives in a trailer, married a meth-head, named her kid Little Walter, and engages in lesbian activity but the abuse she suffers and the subsequent revenge she plots on her abusers is unsettling. A perfect character for dramatic television.

Armstrong fits the mold perfectly! She can play stank n' skank like no other as proven with her performance in Stay Alive. And she can pull off the emotional scenes that seem to encompass Sammy's life.




Agree or disagree with this fantasy cast? What character would you like to see on the small screen?

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

Everything Geek: The Buffyverse

Oh the "Verse". All geeks out there will agree that to turn anything from cult status to geek status, you have to add the suffix "Verse". Such as Buffyverse. It's like the universe 'cept only with Buffy shit. Isn't that a world we all want to live in? My thoughts exactly.


The Movie
Joss Whedon was toying with the idea of making a movie revolving around female empowerment for quite some time. He wanted something different than the damzel in distress. His first idea would be centered around an immortal waitress named Rhonda. Yeah, right, aren't we all glad he didn't go down that route!!

What finally emerged from the rubble was a light-hearted, sometimes spazzy, teen comedy about sex, drugs, violence, and school bullying. Joss has written a darker script and he did express dissapointment with the final outcome.

The movie showcased Buffy as a ditzy cheerleader who goes against the grain and fights the path that was laid out for her. It could have been great, but execs turned it into a so-so pop-culture movie that made more people laugh then scream.

I find Kristy Swanson was perfect for the role. She portrayed Buffy just as brilliantly as Sarah Michelle Gellar did, although this statement would not be well accepted at a Buffy convention. They hate the Swanson!! Rounding out the cast is Donald Sutherland, Luke Perry, David Arquette, Paul Reubens, Rutger Hauer, and Hilary Swank. Yes, the same Hilary Swank. Check out cameos by Ben Affleck and Ricki Lake!

The TV Show (seasons 1-7)
I already blogged about my love for this series here and here, so you're free to check out what contradictions can be found between the posts. :)

Okay, so I know I've said this a gazillion times, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer is hands-down the best TV show ever made. For one hour it made teens around the world laugh, scream, cry, question. It made us fall in love with some of TV's most detailed and complexe characters ever written.

Yeah, sometimes there was filler episodes about sharkboys or preying manthis teachers but the core stories were always spot-on and Buffy was known for having some of the best season finales in its time.

It comes at no surprise that even to this day, us fans are still begging for more. When I say Joss Whedon is a God, I'm not kidding.

The Tie-in Novels

You know a series or movies has gained geek status when they start making tie-in novels. These books are rarely considered canon to the original storyline and oftentimes features the characters in a dreamworld or alternate reality.

They were really popular during the show's duration but eventually less were made when the series finished after seven seasons.

I have yet to read any tie-ins merely because it isn't Joss Whedon's work. And what I like about Buffy is the interactions between the characters, it's all in their body language. Not so sure how that would translate into words.

The Graphic Novel (seasons 8-9)

I really wanted to continue with the Buffy storyline and even almost bought the first graphic novel, The Long Way Home, but for some reason I put it back on the shelf. I read alot about the graphic novel continuation and it just seems all a bit weird. Buffy has a lesbian relationship, people have magical powers, Dawn becomes a giant. It all seemed too comic-y for me.

But while doing a bit of reading for this blog, I found out there was a season 9, which went back to the more subtle terror of the tv series. I'm slightly more tempted to start the graphic novels now!

With all this plus the countless fan fiction on the internet, you can't really go wrong. A chick that kicks ass is pure geek. At its best!


Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

Best of 2011: Television Sensation

2011 was a good great year for television. There haven't been much unsuspected cancellations. The good shows stayed and the crappy ones left. That's how every Autumn should be like. I will complain though - the Fall 2011 line-up would have been much better had The Event been picked up for a second season. I'm still angry about that!


Person of Interest (PoI)

Creator: Jonathan Nolan
Starring: Jim Caviezel, Michael Emerson, Taraji P. Henson
Television Gold: I watched the first three episodes and then kinda disconnected from it. It reminded me too much of Law & Order with the different crime every day. Over the Holidays, I decided to give the show a second chance. Glad I did! Taraji P. Henson is amazing as a cop, she has the moves and the dialogue narrowed down to a T. And unlike Law & Order, there is some form of continuous plotline but it's still too subtle for my liking. The element of science-fiction is what really draws me in.

Shameless

Creator: Paul Abbott
Starring: Emmy Rossum, Justin Chatwin, William H. Macy, and Joan Cusack
Television Gold: Shameless is like Roseanne on cocaine. Quite literally. This show is fucking hilarious and every episode gets increasingly better as you progress through the season. Emmy Rossum really grounds the series and her portrayal of a sister-mother-of-five is deserving of every award out there. If you haven't watched this yet, do it - Season two started not too long ago!!

American Horror Story

Creator: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk
Starring: Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, Taissa Farmiga, and Jessica Lange
Television Gold: Ryan Murphy - better know as the man behind Nip/Tuck and Glee - shocked the hell out of me when he announced his upcoming new series American Horror Story. It was to be a tale of a typical American family being haunted by the demons of their past. So the story changed through the summer and what was finally delivered last Fall was a brilliant showcase of a true Haunting; paranoïa, anxiety, fear, hallucinations. Taissa Farmiga and Jessica Lange steal the show, with Lange taking home this year's Golden Globe for her portrayal of shallow neighbour Constance Langdon.

Once Upon a Time

Creator: Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz
Starring: Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, Lana Parilla, and Jared Gilmore
Television Gold: I actually didn't like the premiere and swore off the show forever! But when American Horror Story ended, I needed something to watch. A lot of people were talking about this show so I caved and watched episode 2, then 3, then 4, and so on until I watched every aired episode. And now I'm hook. It reminds of Fable and I love the allusion's to LOST like the Evil Queen's address (108), the frozen time (8:15) and the whiskey (MacCutcheon's). It sometimes dabbles into cheesy territory - mostly the fairytale flashbacks - but I'm gonna give the first season a shot.

Notable Sitcoms:

• 2 Broke Girls
• New Girl

What was your favourite show of 2011?


Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

November 20th: 2 br0ke girls

I stated previously in my blog that 30 minute sitcoms were just not for me. Then I watched 2 Broke Girls.

It's a hilarious show on CBS starring Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs as Max and and Caroline, two very different women working togheter in a rundown diner. It was created by Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cummings who is also producing and starring in her own show, Whitney, on rival network NBC.

Max is a sassy, joke-spitting, nearly poor waitress who also works as a nanny for a upper east-side rich family. Caroline was born into riches but lost everything when her father was busted for ripping off his investors. She gets a job at the diner where Max works at, and soon they become friends, roommates, and business partners.

The premise of the show is the girls trying to gather $250,000 to open their cupcake business which each show ending with a tally of how much they saved so far. They participate in odd jobs to make ends meat and collect every bit of coins they can to launch their enterprise.

It has been criticized for it's very raunchy humour, some critics calling it borderline racism but seriously, people need to lighten up. Have the critics seen the show The Game?? They often make crude remarks and stereotypical jokes about white people and nobody ever flipped a switch so as long as the jokes aren't gratuitous, it's all good in my books!

All in all, what makes this show work is the rapport between the two girls, Dennings and Behrs. They work so well togheter and seem to feed off each other's energy. It's almost a throwback to earlier situation comedies and you can truly see the chemistry between both actresses.

If you haven't caught up on this sensational sitcom, you still have time to get in the know!

What sitcom do you like? What are your thoughts about 2 Broke Girls?

Candles are out,
Eleven's Ink

November 19th: A French Revolution!!

I'm french-canadian. Maybe some francophone readers have not noticed it because of my main use of the english language, but I am certain anglophones have caught on that I don't master Shakespeares language.

Quebec, the province I live in, is the only francophone province in Canada. We have our own television networks and radio stations that cater to our linguistic preferences and every year, a slew of movies from La Belle Province are applauded across the world.

If you speak french, you should check out these 19 Produits du Québec.


Grande Ourse
A rare gem in Quebec television. The only hard sci-fi show and ohmygod did it ever kick ass! Because there is so little funding for arts and entertainment in Canada, big shows like these only air for one maybe two seasons with only 6-8 episodes each. More of a mini-series, really. They eventually made a movie several years later but it lacked the depth of the series' storyline. Stars my favourite Quebec actress Fanny Malette as Gastonne.

Aveux

I blogged about this show before here. Once again, this is more of a mini-series since it's only one season long. The casting is flawless, the acting is amazing, and some scenes will seriously leave you crying. So good!

Bon Cop, Bad Cop
Probably one of the most famous Quebec movie out there. It is bilingual and is a satire/dark comedy about the stupid fight between anglophones and francophones in Canada. It is kind of funny but you have to be in a particular kind of mood to laugh.

Elles Étaient Cinq
This is a really sad movie about the reality of criminal rights. Five girls host a party at one of the girls parent's cottage. Manon and Sophie decide to head to town to get more alcohol. When they return, a guy in a jeep stops when Sophie sticks her thumb out. What happens next changes the lives of all five girls and shines a light on how tolerent we are at parole hearings.

Babine
The very first Quebec fairytale. It leans more towards Grimm then Disney though. But all in all, it's still very much a family film and it contains everything and anything that makes this type of movie magical.

La Guerre des Tuques
Oh a classic! Every Quebecker has seen this movie in their lifetime. It's a staple during the christmas holidays and it still has its place in 2011. Kids will be kids!

Nos Étés
This one is still too fresh to be a classic but it will hold that title in the future. An epic tale of family ties, families at war, and all set in different time periods that marked our nation. Stunning series!



Les Chevaliers d'Émeraude
A very popular children's book series about knights defending their country against the humanoid insects that come from across the sea. It has been rumoured that it would be made into a television series but that has yet to happen. A spin-off book series set after the events of the twelfth and final book of Chevalier d'Émeraudes was released a couple of years ago but I lost interest.

NRJ 104.1

The most popular french-speaking radio channel in Quebec. Many celebrities have hosted shows on this dial that has been refashioned from Energie to NRJ, the international chain of francophone music. Thanks to it we get french remixes of popular songs. Unfortunately we also get this:

Lance et Compte

This series has been around for 25 years, spawned 7 seasons, 6 TV movies and a big screen adaptation two years ago. It launched the career of Marina Orsini, who has become Quebec's sweetheart. It included real NHL hockeys teams into the drama and is the most sucessful francophone show in Quebec.



C.R.A.Z.Y.

This film travelled the world and won numerous prestigious awards such as the City Award at TiFF, the Jury's Prize at the Morocco Film Festival, the Genie award for Best Motion Picture, and won the Audience Award at the American Film Insitute Fest in Los Angeles. C.R.A.Z.Y. uses classic rock music - mostly Pink Floyd - as a backdrop to the movie. It tells the struggle of a homosexual boy growing up in the 70's with four macho brothers and a very strict conservative dad.

Les Boys

Oh another classic movie. It was a major sucessful movie that was followed by three sequels and an equally sucessful tv show which is in its fourth season. It got a lot of critisicsm for having similar plotlines and ideas as Lance et Compte and even have some of the same actors. The theme song for the movie has become Eric Lapointe's most requested song. Let's listen to it.





Roméo et Juliette

Almost every country - or nation with enough ressources to finance a film - has remade Shakespeare's tale of star-crossed lover. In the Quebec version, the story has been modernized and depicts a harsh-reality of our social classes and how we've grown to accept it as is. One of the better versions of Romeo & Juliet.

Le Collectionneur

This movie is based on Chrystine Brouillet's bestseller of the same name. I absolutely loved the book about a detective trying to solve a string of murders happening in Montreal. The movie came out almost at the same time as The Bone Collector with Denzel Washington and it had audiences confused as the french translation for the Washington flick was similar to Le Collectionneur. Suffice to say, it's now become a cult classic.



Aurore

This is a story most Quebeckers wished they hadn't heard. The true story of Aurore Gagnon - a severely tortured child who eventually died at the hands of her step-mother - has been told numerous times but none more painfully accurate then the 2005 adaptation by Luc Dionne, a remake of the 1952 film Little Aurore: Child Martyr.



Un Souper Presque Parfait

I guess you can compare this show with The Food Network's Dinner Party Wars, in which people compete for a grand prize by trying to out-perform their fellow competitors in the fields of hosting and cooking. In the Quebec version, it is five guests and and they are featured from monday to friday with each day reserved for one of the competitors. It is oddly entertaining!!



Karmina

A vampire movie with Quebec slang. Ya, totally fucking hilarious!



Wariwulf

From the author of the Amos Daragon series, Bryan Perro branched off several years ago to devellop a story set in ancient Egypt about a boy with the mystical powers to transform into a wolf. There is ALOT of characters in this one, in the same vein as Chevalier D'émeraude but the story is weaven so much more intricately.

Fanny Malette

I love this actress so much she deserves her own showcase slot! I first saw her in the supernatural series Grande-Ourse and have been feverishly stalking her every moves since. She stole my heart in Continental: Un film sans fusils, and her portrayal of the conflicted mother in Les 7 Jours du Talion can take anyone's breath away and reduce them to tears. Hands down, one of our bests. Her portrayal of Gastonne in Grande Ourse is an example of how much quirkiness is tolerated in television. She was cast against producers wishes in the series Nos Étés as Nora but soon convinced TV execs when her character became a fan favourite. I hated her, but I loved hating her.

 

 

If you are away from home, I hope you enjoyed this! What's your favourite thing Made in Québec?

Candles are out,

Eleven's Ink