Crusade: The Complete Series (1999)

I had seen most of the episodes for this tragically short lived sequel series to Babylon 5, during its original cable run on TNT. What I hadn’t seen was the last five episodes, which in fact where the first five episodes. Five episodes into production the TNT brass stepped in and began an effort to exert more control over the series. The good part of this was an infusion of increased funds into the show, the bad part was that the increased corporate medaling would lead to a dispute with the creative people, ending in the programs cancellation. This is why watching those 'true' first five episodes was so reveling, it gave me a chance to see what this series could have been had JMS had the complete creative control he deserved.

First off the show would have gotten right into the action, they didn’t film a traditional pilot/ ‘the crew gets together episode’, this was ordered by the network later. Instead we got episodes which hinted at arc, but at this point where mostly stand alone’s, good short stories (despite my roommates protests to the contrary). The ‘X-Files’ episode was just fun, and if you watched that 90's sci-fi staple at all, the satiracle commentary on the conceits of the show are particularly amusing. What impressed me most of this first batch however was the episode about the ‘Taliban-like’ state and its crack down on the arts and culture of an entire race. This episode was slow, it was moody, it went in a couple of different directions, it was not the kind of stuff your used to in television, even sci-fi television. It was a moving little thing that laughed at the rules of pacing and structure and I quite liked it, it’s a shame we didn’t more like that (though I’d put the later ‘Bishop in the Bubble’ episode in that category). All in all this is a series that I’d have loved to see followed through on, and with the new ‘Lost Tales’ direct to DVD series, maybe we’ll find out more about the Excalibur crew in the future. Four out of Five.

The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)

This series got continuously more slapstick oriented and nonsensical as it went along. By the point of this movie its not so much funny, as it is occasionally amusing. I did liked the Gerald Ford sequences, though I’m not sure exactly where they where trying to go with those. Two out of Five.

The Passing of Charlton Heston

As a Mormon I sometimes feel a little reticent to revel my religious affiliation to new acquaintances because it is such a ‘loaded word’, I feel a little of the same when discussing the fact that I am a Charlton Heston fan. The loaded concepts around Mr. Heston are many, that he was a gun nut, a crazy right winger, that he had a ‘prophet’ complex, was prone to corny choices for movie roles, or just wasn’t a very good actor. There was a time when I was a big fan of Heston politically, I’m here referring to the later conservative Heston, the younger liberal Heston is mostly forgotten, though I now more closely relate to him. I am still a strong supporter of the second amendment, though not at all a gun person, and I think a lot of what the actor/NRA president had to say was worthy of discussion, indeed I think he was largely right on a lot of issues, though his style of communicating these points could have been more ecumenical.

Heston is sometimes viewed as the William Shatner of the big screen, and he did play some “hockey” parts in the De Mile epics and sci-fi adventure films of the late 60’s and 70’s. But he was kind of hypnotic to watch. In the crowded cast of Airport 75 he still stood out, and his performance in Ben-Hur was the equal of Lancaster and Douglas. I always felt that Heston was a good person, well meaning and consistent, which is why his attack by Michael Moore in ’Bowling for Columbine’ still stands in my estimation as one of the scummiest things the film maker has ever done (and I generally like Moore). Heston will be missed, even though he had been out of the public eye for years suffering from Alzheimer’s, he was still part of the national conversation and zeitgeist, I found myself in a conversation about Heston as recently as last Thursday. Indeed I just might have to watch Soylent Green again before the week is out.

Braveheart (1995)

This is just one of those films from which I felt removed in initial disposition. I remember the hype when it first came out, and when it won the Oscar, a populist film winning where more ‘sophisticated’ fair is often favored. I even remember Scott Harper in my Church scout troop talking about how hot Wallace’s wife was hot (he was right). However obviously I put off seeing the film and felt its reputation overblown. Well now I’ve seen it and felt it got wider and more impressive as it progressed. There were some good sub-plots here, emotional, relational stuff to intermix with the action and hero epic, they helped it in my estimation, and I liked the film, but I don’t know if I’ll ever feel a strong desire to see it again (I doubt I will). It is however an important step in the evolution of Mel Gibson, with the extreme violence coupled with a ‘justifying’ heroism and aspirations to art. This is the midway point between Lethal Weapon and The Passion of the Christ. Great Score.

West Wing Season 4 (2002-2003)

I saw this whole season (without missing an episode I think) when it first aired five years ago. It’s an eventful season featuring the Presidents re-election, the war in Kundu, Sam’s departure and Will’s arrival, a vice-presidential resignation, and of course the kidnapping of the first daughter, resulting in probably the second most maddeningly anticipatory wait for a shows return in my person history (the first being John Sheridan’s fall into the abyss at the end of season 3 of Babylon 5). Really there’s just to much here for me to do any justice of an encapsulation, I really should just pick an episode and delve into it, but I’d have to hard a time selecting one. So if anyone reading this cares to pick an episode for me feel free to, and if I see it (your message) I’ll be sure to write a little something specific about it.

God Grew Tired of Us (2006)

I saw John Dau, one of the ‘lost boys of Sudan’ featured in this documentary, speak at Boise State last year. My roommate Jon was affected enough to watch the doc, read the book, and generally go on a little John Dau kick. Well now I’ve finally seen the film and quite liked it, it’s a likable pic featuring some profoundly decent folk who’ve been through hell, and come out Christians with sunny dispositions. Now that end result is enough to turn some readers off of the film, but I’d challenge them to see it because life is kind of crazy like that, some people can go through the worst things on Earth and end up surprisingly chipper, while folks who have all the breaks might be forever unhappy. This movie is a testament to the diversity of experience and how some human souls always bounce back. Plus the culture shock factor of African tribesman moving to the American eastern seaboard is worthy of a light chuckle.

Land of the Dead (2005)

George A. Romeo Zombie pick that doubles as commentary on class distinctions but remains poor and clichéd. At what point did attempting to insert real issues into ill reputed genera’s cease to be subversive and become merely pretentious? Well with or before this film, that’s for certain.