Charmed Season 3

Tags

2000's, Alyssa Milano, Brian Krause, Charmed, Charmed Season 3, Dorian Gregory, Holly Marie Combs, Julian McMahon, Shannen Doherty

With Season 3, Charmed becomes darker and more personal. And with that, it emerges as probably my favourite season of the entire show’s run. Season 1 and Season 2 were amazing and carefully balanced humour, sisterly relationships and the elements of supernatural, but with this season, we get a welcome dash of seriousness and poignant emotion. This gives Season 3 a necessary drama as we see the Halliwell’s face demons, discover some eventful family history and experience eventual tragedy. Be warned readers, major spoilers will follow in this review.

Prue( Shannen Doherty), Piper(Holly Marie Combs) and Phoebe(Alyssa Milano) Halliwell continue to battle demons, taking down the supernatural foes that come their way in the hope of stopping the spread of evil and protecting the greater good. The burden of this often weighs heavy upon the girls, but as it is their destiny to be protectors of good, they don’t really have a choice. In fact, Prue takes centre stage this season and announces herself as supremely powerful and capable. She may have wanted a normal life at the start of the show, but now with their Wiccan destiny there, Prue has taken it by the horns and has become a very quick study in all things supernatural. She can now channel her power for great potential and is clearly someone you shouldn’t trifle with. Piper has taken her relationship with Leo(Brian Krause) to the next step and becomes engaged, despite the trepidation of The Elders. Through Piper’s deep love, the veil that has protected the union between witches and Whitelighters marrying is lifted and Piper finally marries her beloved. Plus, Piper gains a new power to blow things up with a wave of her hands which she at first struggles to control but comes in very handy when battling evil. And last but not least is Phoebe( who acquires the new power of levitation), meeting someone who will have a deep impact on her life. That person is Cole Turner(Julian McMahon), a charming district attorney who takes a romantic interest in Phoebe which of course she reciprocates. Secretly though, Cole is half demon( his vicious demonic state is known as Belthazor) and has been sent to kill the Charmed Ones by The Triad, a group of exceptionally evil demons who want to assume power. What Cole hasn’t bargained for is genuinely falling for Phoebe and thus putting his mission to kill her in jeopardy. All of this leads Phoebe to a crisis when she does find out the true nature of Cole as she has deeply fallen for him. And though the sisters must vanquish him, Phoebe lies to protect Cole from harm as she can’t let go of him. Yet when her sisters find out it is a hard task explaining this to them, especially to Prue who suspected Cole all along. Add to this The Source getting stronger and gearing up for an attack on the sisters, and we have one hell of a season that comes to a highly charged and devastating finale.

What really gives Season 3 that something special is the sense of consistency in it and the emotions that are drawn out. While Charmed is a heavily serialized show, there is a greater sense of overriding events here. The stories that populate the season are darker and more mature than before and while not every episode is perfect, the majority of them this season are outstanding, well-written and acted with excellence( as many people may have gathered by my mostly high episode ratings at the bottom of this review). The themes of deep love come to the forefront as Piper finally marries Leo and Phoebe falls for the devilish Cole and must consider the consequences. A poignant sense of emotion pervades Season 3 as threats become more personal to the girls and their magic is constantly tested by every force of evil imaginable. There is still the humour there for enjoyment, but a greater sense of maturity added to the mix. We finally glimpse The Source, although he is hooded and enshrouded with mystery. But just from hearing his deep voice and his deceptive ways lets us know that he will be one hellish evil that will challenge the sisters. And with this season thankfully, things we’ve been wondering about are explained. We get to see The Elders and their heavenly domain and the girl’s father manages to patch things up after being absent for so long because he wanted to steer clear of the world of witches and demons. I liked how this season brought these to attention and finally addressed them properly.

The most emotional and sad moment of this season is the death of Prue in the finale. Prue has always been the most assured and powerful sister who has to take responsibility. So to have her die at the hands of The Source’s henchman while trying to save an innocent is such a tragedy and definitely makes for wrenching viewing. As we’ve watched her grow along with her sisters, we’ve developed a bond with her. I have noticed that leading up to the tragedy there are subtle references to death among the sisters that manifests itself in different forms. The finale is one powerhouse of an episode of danger, demons and tragedy that ranks as my favourite episode in the show’s entire run because it takes risks and delivers emotional viewing. And with that, we are left wondering how the show can continue with the Power of Three severed.

It may be her last season on the show, but Shannen Doherty still gives one hell of an impact as Prue. Tough, wise, protective yet compassionate, Prue has truly grown since becoming a witch. Doherty brings out that inner strength and sensitive side and works wonders with it. It may be her last season, but Doherty makes sure her part will never be forgotten in the Charmed canon. And I do believe it is very fitting that Doherty herself directed her last episode which is truly a testament to her abilities. On a side note, Doherty also directs another very good episode during the season in which she is sent into a time portal of the Wild West that will keep repeating until justice is served. Holly Marie Combs continues to convey deep emotions and passion as Piper, who is taking control of her life for good. Combs just makes you feel every emotion that Piper is feeling through small and subtle things. Piper is the main heart of the show and her love for Leo is the loveliest relationship as we see their struggles, but ultimately their undying love for each other. It’s very nice to see Piper still in control but not afraid to let her hair down in one particular episode. OK, she may be possessed by a demon when she table dances in leather, but it definitely provides a different and sexy side to Piper and a very memorable moment of an excellently constructed season. Alyssa Milano excellently brings forth the sympathetic yet confused side of Phoebe out as she wrestles with her love for half-demon Cole. You can’t help but feel sorry for Phoebe in that the first guy she genuinely loves turns out to be mainly evil. Phoebe has always been the sister to wear her heart on her sleeve and see the good in people, but here it puts her in jeopardy yet also in the face of her true love. Just like Piper’s relationship with Leo, being in love with Cole proves hard for Phoebe as she is torn about whether he can remain good because he loves her or that he will revert back to being Belthazor. This is the season that really lets all the sisters get a moment to shine. For Prue there is her showing of strength, reconciliation with her estranged father and her tragic death. With Piper, there is her sexy table dance and magical wedding( attended by Grams and her mother in spirit form). And for Phoebe there is her defiance of her sisters and false vanquish of Cole.

Julian McMahon, being the newest person to cast is excellent as Cole. Caught between his desire for Phoebe and his evil nature, Cole is one interesting character added to the show. McMahon embodies the cunning, ruthless side to Cole with aplomb as well as the humane area that wants to be good for the sake of his love. I mean Cole even kills the Triad for the greater good, yet this in turn puts The Source higher up on the girl’s list of enemies and places him in extreme danger as the master of everything evil does not take kindly to people turning their backs on him. It also helps that McMahon has genuine chemistry with Alyssa Milano, which highlights the danger and passion of their union. Brian Krause provides understanding, brotherly care and a sense of determination to Leo as he watches over the girls and fulfills his beautiful relationship with Piper. As recurring aid Officer Darryl Morris, Dorian Gregory is likable, caring and sometimes bewildered by the various cases he investigates that tend to link back to the sisters who he considers family.

1. The Honeymoon’s Over – C
2. Magic Hour – C+
3. Once Upon a Time – D-
4. All Halliwell’s Eve – B
5. Sight Unseen – B+
6. Primrose Empath – A
7. Power Outage – A
8. Sleuthing with the Enemy – A
9. Coyote Piper – B+
10. We All Scream for Ice Cream – A
11. Blinded by the Whitelighter – B
12. Wrestling with Demons – D
13. Bride and Gloom – B+
14. The Good, the Bad and the Cursed – A
15. Just Harried – B
16. Death Takes a Halliwell – B+
17. Pre-Witched – A+
18. Sin Francisco – A
19. The Demon Who Came in from the Cold – C-
20. Exit Strategy – C+
21. Look Who’s Barking – B
22. All Hell Breaks Loose – A+

Darker, more deeply urgent and loaded with emotion, Charmed Season 3 is definitely my favourite season of the show.

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Along Came Polly

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Along Came Polly, Blogathon, Philip Seymour Hoffman

This post is part of a blogathon orchestrated by the amazing Jordan Dodd. It is to showcase the outstanding work of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. For me, he was an acting chameleon who could shift into any genre or any character no matter what.  The performance of his that I’ve chosen to highlight is in Along Came Polly.

Along Came Polly is a film I really don’t like, it just isn’t my kind of movie at all. The focus is meant to be on Ben Stiller overcoming his wife cheating on him by beginning to date kooky Jennifer Aniston. As a film, it is weak and unconvincing but the one good thing in it is Philip Seymour Hoffman. He portrays Stiller’s best friend Sandy Lyle, a former child star who is past it but still holding onto the glory of his youth. Hoffman just brings so much enjoyable energy, geeky charm and one-liners to the part. His basketball scene in which he showcases his inability to score a single shot is hysterically funny to watch and his call for timeout is a hoot. His impassioned speech to Stiller’s colleagues after he has to step in is filled with deep humour and gift. He tries to make a comeback in Jesus Christ Superstar and still thinks the whole play is featured on him. Even though the part is supposed to just be the witty sidekick to Stiller, Hoffman makes it much more than that with hysterical results. I really can’t fault Hoffman in this film as he takes what is a really bad movie and gives it something memorable. I think I still quote certain phrases from his character here, such as “Let it rain”.

Thanks for this opportunity to do this Jordan. I really enjoyed highlighting the great work of Hoffman and this blogathon is really neat. Everyone please check out Jordan’s amazing and insightful blog as you will not regret it.

The Brood

Tags

1970's, Art Hindle, Cindy Hinds, David Cronenberg, Horror, Oliver Reed, Samantha Eggar, The Brood

Film Title

The Brood

Director

David Cronenberg

Starring

• Oliver Reed as Dr. Hal Raglan
• Samantha Eggar as Nola Carveth
• Art Hindle as Frank Carveth
• Cindy Hinds as Candice Carveth

A disturbing and unsettling horror film given a personal slant because of what director David Cronenberg had been going through, The Brood will frighten you as well as leave you with questions because of the strange impact it has.

The eccentric and questionable Dr. Hal Raglan has found an unusual way to treat his disturbed patients. The treatment literally allows the patient to manifest their pain, anger and frustration as various bodily effects like legions, bumps and blisters. He is in the process of treating Nola Carveth, who has suffered some sort of breakdown while being locked in an acrimonious custody battle with her estranged husband Frank for their five-year-old daughter Candice. Raglan sees Nola as one of his star patients and believes his treatments are working as he begins to break down the defensive barriers she puts up because of incidents in her past. Yet Frank is not so convinced and certain events like the discovery of bruises on his daughter’s back after visiting her mother, lead him to believe that Nola is behind this and that the treatment is having a dangerous impact on those subjected to it. Yet while the confused Frank is trying to piece together this puzzle, a series of grisly murders are committed by what appears to be a swarm of disfigured dwarves on those that have hurt Nola in the past adding further mystery and terror to the mix. As he digs deeper, he makes a shocking discovery that leads him back to his wife and the treatment while trying to protect his young daughter caught in the middle of it all and open to the threat of the eponymous brood.

David Cronenberg infuses The Brood with a personal stamp, seemingly influenced by the divorce he was going through at the time. The Brood may derive its horror from the grisly murders and unusual bodily treatments, but a lot of the horror comes from the themes of divorce and the impact of it on those surrounding it, mainly the young daughter. Cronenberg paces the film very well as we build up to the hellish revelations of dubious psychology and the morphing of ones body into its own entity of rage and hate. There are times when the pace becomes too glacial for its own good and the sheer strangeness of the film threatens to overpower, but it just keeps the right amount of mystery, terror and freaky goings on to keep you interested and invested in this disturbing tale. A quick warning for anyone thinking of watching The Brood, it is not a film for everyone and if you have a weak stomach, you might want to look away as things get particularly grisly as the film goes on.While subtlety is not exactly the film’s strong suit, I was interested in how it built up to the horror rather than just had it from the first frame. With this, we do get a sense of mystery as we assume the role of Frank, trying to discover the extent of Raglan’s treatment. And while there is gore( specifically in the last half an hour when things boil over) , it feels more controlled and gives it an unexpected jolt of terror rather than having a detrimental effect on the story. While some of the special effects are a little dated, many of them surprisingly hold up very well, especially in the case of the murderous brood of the title. Howard Shore provides an eerie score of slashing strings and reverberating menace that adds yet another layer of power to the disturbing events that begin to unfold.

Oliver Reed is oiliness personified as the ambitious yet eccentric psychologist with the unusual treatments that lead to inevitable terror and destruction. Just watching his methods of treatment and his refusal to stop is chilling indeed as he doesn’t see the grisly impact it will have on other people. Samantha Eggar sends shivers down the spine as the disturbed Nola, bringing forth an intense, wild-eyed performance that is hard to forget. Nola is the main catalyst of the story with her deep-seated anxieties boiling over into rage and Eggar makes the character an unforgettable creation. Art Hindle makes the most of the part of Frank, and exudes the confusion and tenacity of a man trying to piece together a disturbing set of events and protect his young daughter from harm. Cindy Hinds plays the traumatised child very well and really is emotionally convincing in this disturbing film.

Deeply unsettling and stomach-churning, The Brood is a whole bunch of horror rolled into a package that also functions as something of a drama too thanks to the impact of Cronenberg’s connection to the tale.

Which do you Prefer? T.V. Reviews or Movie Reviews

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Suggestions

I’ve recently been asking myself the same question. And as all of you loyal followers are so great with feedback, I thought I’d ask you. Do you like my movie reviews and analysis better? Or is it my Television thoughts that captures your interest? Or do you like them both equally? I’m just asking as I want to know your opinions and I know I can trust you all. And plus I want to review things I know you’ll enjoy reading about.

Also, in the future I will continue with writing both movie and television reviews, so no need to worry there. So whatever your opinion is please give it. Is there a specific show you think I’d enjoy watching? Or a specific movie that you think would catch my eye?

The Cell

Tags

2000's, Dylan Baker, Horror, Jennifer Lopez, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Tarsem Singh, The Cell, Thriller, Vince Vaughn, Vincent D'Onofrio

Film Title

The Cell

Director

Tarsem Singh

Starring

• Jennifer Lopez as Catherine Deane
• Vince Vaughn as Agent Peter Novak
• Vincent D’Onofrio as Carl Stargher
• Dylan Baker as Henry West
• Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Dr. Miriam Kent

A visually disturbing and unique film, but also hollow and poorly plotted, The Cell is sometimes its own worst enemy in terms of what it wants to be. It may boast the occasional moment of understanding, but you just get the feeling it could have been so much more if differences were made to it.

Catherine Deane is a psychologist who deals with cases of comatose patients. Through an unusual and high-tech treatment, she can place herself in the mind of the patient and try to connect with them, in the hoped of coaxing them out of their coma. The FBI enlists her services when Carl Stargher, a serial killer falls into a coma after kidnapping his latest victim. Carl keeps his victims in a confined cell in an unknown location that eventually fills with water to slowly drown them. Carl after killing them commits atrocities to their bodies and crafts the women into human dolls. With Carl now in a comatose state, the whereabouts of his latest victim are not known and Agent Peter Novak wants to save the woman before it is too late. Catherine agrees to enter Carl’s mind in order to discover where the latest victim is. Yet she is not prepared for what greets her when she enters his mind. It manifests as disturbing images from his childhood in which his father routinely abused him and strange visions of the adult Carl who delights in graphic and sadistic murder. While trying to stop herself getting too involved with the increasingly bizarre visions and discerning herself that it is all not a reality, Catherine becomes lost in this dangerous dreamscape believing it to be real. Now caged in his mind along with Peter who ventures in to help her, she must find a way out before her time runs out.

If The Cell was purely judged from a visual standpoint, it would be a masterpiece. Director Tarsem Singh knows how to shoot these vivid and very disturbing journeys into Carl’s warped mind with style and verve. Striking and unusual images abound: a horse is cut in half and its still beating heart is shown, the walls of a palace become the cloak of Carl as a king, Catherine imprisoned in a gravity defying cage and also being dressed in unusually restrictive clothing as a fantasy figure. The list could go on about how amazing the film looks, it’s a shame that the plotting, pacing and writing could have been much better. Singh has a craft when it comes to the fantasy and horror aspects, but his grasp of pace and other things isn’t as deft. In the beginning, The Cell just meanders along for big stretches and only really comes alive when Catherine enters into Carl’s twisted psyche. Character development among the supporting cast and Vince Vaughn’s character is almost non-existent and none of them are really that interesting.  As I mentioned earlier, The Cell doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. It feels like a three-way cross between a thriller, horror and dashes of fantasy. And while I have nothing against the melding of genres together, The Cell lurches from one to the other without a care and it just makes the film feel messy. At least there’s a Middle Eastern infused score from Howard Shore that compliments the haunting cornucopia of imagery and keeps the plot going despite the flaws of it.

Jennifer Lopez, while not being the first person to spring to mind in playing a psychologist, actually brings warmth and sympathy to her underwritten character. Lopez must also get credit for the amount of convincing fear she portrays when she is entangled in the dreams and memories of Carl. Vince Vaughn tries his best but is saddled with such an uninteresting character, that he can’t really register anything of memory. The real acting highlight of The Cell is Vincent D’Onofrio. Bringing his considerable hulking and physical presence to the role, he delves into the disturbed mind of Carl and gives us the child in a man’s body who has no idea of right and wrong due to the horrendous abuse he suffered at the hands of his father. When you finish this film, it will be D’Onofrio that you will remember. Dylan Baker and Marianne Jean-Baptiste are given absolutely nothing to do as fellow psychologists and their inclusion adds up to nothing.

So for all the audacity and visual impact, The Cell doesn’t add up to an excellent movie.

American Horror Story: Coven

Tags

2010's, American Horror Story, American Horror Story: Coven, Angela Bassett, Denis O'Hare, Emma Roberts, Evan Peters, Frances Conroy, Gabourey Sidibe, Jamie Brewer, Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson, Taissa Farmiga

I decided to go back to American Horror Story again to catch up as I felt I’d fallen behind. This will be my review of Season 3, subtitled Coven. While still as chilling and weirdly perverse as Murder House and Asylum, I just feel like there’s something missing from it to make it a better entry. Not that the season is bad, in fact its far from it with excellent acting, chills and atmosphere, it just slightly pales in comparison with its predecessors. Be warned, spoilers will follow in this review.

Coven is set in modern-day New Orleans. Zoe Benson( Taissa Farmiga) is a young girl whose life appears pretty normal, until a strange and tragic incident reveals that she is in fact a witch. Her power is that when anyone comes into sexually contact with anyone they will die horribly. Feeling alone and afraid, she is bundled off to Miss Robichaux’s Academy that doubles as a haven for witches to harness their powers and survive intolerance thrown at them. The school is watched over by the demure Cordelia Foxx( Sarah Paulson), whose mother Fiona Goode( Jessica Lange) is the reigning Supreme ( in other words the most powerful witch). Fiona has been out-of-town on a personal vanity trip to find a way to restore her waning youth. She returns and takes charge of the school, much to the chagrin of her estranged daughter. Fiona is still obsessed with retaining youth and her position as Supreme and no one is going to stand in her way, even if it includes murdering the next in line. Fiona’s integrity and less than perfect rise to being the Supreme is constantly questioned by the council, specifically Myrtle Snow( Frances Conroy), her most sworn enemy. Little by little, we see how devious she can be and how only Spalding( Denis O’Hare), the mute butler of the Academy knows of her past misdeeds. Meanwhile Zoe befriends fellow witches Madison Montgomery( Emma Roberts), the catty movie star who is telekinetic, Queenie( Gabourey Sidibe), an African-American girl who can inflict pain on other much like a voodoo doll and the wise clairvoyant and telepathic Nan( Jamie Brewer). As the series progresses the witches come under attack from outside forces. A long truce between witches and voodoo practitioners comes to a bitter end when Fiona over steps the mark when searching for eternal beauty and angers priestess Marie Laveau( Angela Bassett) with harrowing results. We also have Delphine LaLaurie( Kathy Bates), a wealthy women who murdered slaves in the 19th Century and was cursed with immortal life by Laveau resurfacing again after Fiona finds her unmarked grave. She’s not the only person returning as we have Misty Day( Lily Rabe) a nature loving witch with the power of resurrection who dwells in the swamps after being burned at the stake for her gift by the zealously religious community . Zoe meets nice guy Kyle Spencer( Evan Peters) at a party and takes a liking to him. But when his frat brothers rape Madison, the movie star gains revenge by flipping over their bus and killing them. Zoe is devastated that Kyle is dead because he was innocent and Madison, who is clearly more confident with magic makes a bargain with her. Through dark powers and an assembling of assorted body parts in the morgue, they resurrect Kyle again but their experiment turns him into a Frankenstein like being of immensely violent and unpredictable rage. Intolerance from the outside world and unrest among the girls also threatens to sneak in as they must not only band together, but ultimately eliminate the others to rise to being the new Supreme.

I think I’ll start by talking about the main things that didn’t work for me first. While I know that subtlety is not what American Horror Story is all about, I just felt that Coven overdid it with the sheer outrageousness this time around. And while the campy humour and crackling dialogue is often a Godsend on this show, it really went overboard. Hopefully when I get to the next season, this can be a bit more controlled and not as disjointed as it is here in Coven. Also, I felt certain plot elements( such as almost a million resurrections) were used repetitively and thus became a little stale. I mean in the beginning the resurrection thing is interesting for certain characters like Misty and Myrtle, but then when it shifts to other it becomes a little dull. Many of the episodes feel disjointed and this does have a negative impact on this season.

And now onto the good stuff of this flawed but still watchable season, of which there is a lot. I really liked the whole arc of witchcraft and voodoo clashing and the history of it. It also introduces in various ways the subject of prejudice and intolerance. It can be seen with the young girls of the academy as they are shielded away to avoid abuse and the racism of the past that still lingers on. Coven delivers the horror in spades, with little nods here and there to films that populate the genre and a few new spins. Like most of the seasons, I don’t think anyone will find it easy to sleep after watching the horrifying and brutal episodes that abound. I mean just listing some of the things that happen doesn’t do it justice: we’ve got killer zombies, rituals, cascades of dripping blood, necromancy, beheading. You named it, Coven’s got it. And I can’t do a review without mentioning yet another sinister title sequence. This time we have stark black and white images of fire, tarot cards, witchcraft rituals, a Minotaur and plenty more disturbing imagery that is designed to disturb.

The music throughout is spine-chilling with an intense electronic pulse that seems to predict the gloom that will inevitably come once the war breaks out. Unusual camera angles and strange jump cuts only add to the effect of the season and capture the alienation that is felt primarily by Zoe because of her gift. The location of New Orleans offers a Southern Gothic atmosphere that is palpable and memorable. From the swamps to the cemeteries, it has such a mystical and mysterious aura surrounding it.

Once again, we have many amazingly written and played female roles on display here, which is one of the show’s biggest strengths. Jessica Lange is at her glorious best in the role of Fiona, a powerful witch and a ruthless bitch. Lange successfully embodies the fabulous personality of her, while showing us that as despicable as Fiona is, there is a heart in there somewhere beneath the hard exterior. The talented Lange is at her best when delivering catty lines, going to extreme methods to stop her from being usurped and exuding menace as the vanity obsessed Fiona, which gives the show that something else. Kathy Bates is an excellent addition to the show, bringing her always high calibre skills to the role. She portrays Delphine as initially remorseless for her cruel and twisted actions in the past. Yet Bates goes beneath this and shows that is remorse in there and injects the character with eccentricity and mordant humour as she has the tables turned on her by having immortality and struggling to accept the modern world. The fact that she strikes up an unusual friendship with Queenie( an excellent Gabourey Sidibe) shows a different side to Delphine. Angela Bassett rounds out this trio of excellent women with her fierce performance of the voodoo queen Marie Laveau. Bassett exudes rage, a sense of mystery and unquestionable power as she declares war on the coven. It’s safe to say that the combined talents of these three amazing actresses, armed with one-liners and put downs, ensures that Coven is watchable, despite a few flaws.

The rest of the cast is none too shabby either. Taissa Farmiga is superb at getting under the skin of isolated Zoe who discovers the extent of witchcraft along the way. Sarah Paulson ably charts the emergence of Cordelia from her insular and demure facade to powerful witch who is not to be trifled with. A lot of this change comes when she is blinded by acid, by this she gains the power to see the true nature of people and sends her on the way to battle. Emma Roberts obviously is relishing the role of Madison, who is trashy, flashy and bitchy. Roberts brings this seemingly stock character who is criminally underwritten to life with verve and tongue in cheek delivery. Jamie Brewer and Gabourey Sidibe both turn in great work as two of the witches of the coven that befriend Zoe, while the always reliable Denis O’Hare gives the role of the silent butler Spalding menace and intrigue. Lily Rabe is ethereal and dreamlike as the nature-loving, Stevie Nicks fangirl and very strong Misty. Rabe just radiates this glow that is hard to describe but you just can’t take your eyes off when she appears on screen. Frances Conroy stole whatever scenes she was in as the determined, wildly dressed and ostentatious Myrtle Snow. While Evan Peters did a credible job as the resurrected Kyle, I personally felt he wasn’t given enough to do in comparison with the characters he has played in the past.

Flawed it may be and probably the series of the show that so far I didn’t fully enjoy, Coven is far from unwatchable thanks to a game cast and overall craziness.

Charmed Season 2

Tags

1990's, 2000's, Alyssa Milano, Brian Krause, Charmed, Charmed Season 2, Dorian Gregory, Greg Vaughan, Holly Marie Combs, Karis Paige Bryant, Shannen Doherty

Following on from the emotional finale of Season 1, Charmed returns more assured and expansive for a great second season that delivers thrills, laughs and battles. If it’s magic you want, you can’t go wrong with Charmed. Be warned, spoilers will be following in this review.

The bewitching trio of Halliwell sisters; Prue(Shannen Doherty), Piper( Holly Marie Combs) and Phoebe( Alyssa Milano) are back. In the beginning of the season, they are approaching their one year anniversary of receiving their powers. And while demon activity has been strangely quiet as of late, it soon begins to rear its head again and the girls must continue to honor their duties as good witches. Whilst having to vanquish all forms of evil to protect innocent people and their powers starting to grow, the sisters have other parts of their lives to deal with. Prue is still reeling from Andy’s death and considers giving up magic if it can’t help save loved ones. She then realises that she can’t deny magic as part of her existence and that she may have lost Andy, but it wasn’t her fault. She then begins to emerge as a dedicated witch( complete with her new power of astral projection), when before she feared its presence in her life. Piper has quit her job as a chef and attempts to open up a nightclub, not without a few issues first. When the spot opens, it is appropriately named P3. Piper is also dealing with the absence of Leo( Brian Krause), whose duties as a Whitelighter often scupper their time for romance. While she waits for Leo, Piper strikes up a relationship with handsome next door neighbour Dan Gordon( Greg Vaughan), who has moved in with his teenage niece Jenny( Karis Paige Bryant). Yet this proves hard for her, as Piper’s heart isn’t in the relationship as she loves Leo too much. Phoebe as the youngest, is still as rebellious and curious as ever. Yet she has matured slightly and now wants some responsibility in her life. Having always felt like the sister who is blamed a lot and the one who is the first to cause trouble, she sees that going back to college after she previously dropped out may be the way to get out of the rut and achieve something( while still battling evil on a weekly basis that is). There is also the matter of Darryl( Dorian Gregory), Andy’s former superior who looks out for the girls and eventually discovers their secret. Just as Andy had helped the girls with certain cases, Darryl assumes that position and becomes a vital ally to them when they need information.

The budget seems definitely well spent this time and the effects for the many forms of evil are pretty cool. The demons are stronger this time around and we learn of The Source, who rules the demon underworld and dispatches demons to take out the sisters ( he becomes a major threat in the future when he finally emerges from his confines). Following the groundwork of the great first season, the producers really step it up a gear to create many memorable moments in this excellent season. Some of the standout parts are Prue going undercover in demon circles as a sexy assassin clad in leopard fur and leather, the sisters being transported to a strange future to learn about their actions. Sure certain premises still have a goofy quality, they feel more controlled this time and flow better with the narrative. The writing is still a blast in the way it blends humour, pathos and action into a well made package. Plus nothing beats these girls vanquishing the evils of San Francisco in style. Season 2 also still has the deep emotional current throughout and addresses the importance of sisterhood and sticking by your family. The girls may still be learning about the craft but when things get tough, they always have each other, through thick and thin. There is a refreshing shift in personal growth in Season 2 as the sisters grow in terms of Wiccan power but also as young women. We get to see the healing of past wounds and how it makes the stronger by getting to grips with things.

There is also an extra dash of sexiness which is a definite plus, mainly coming from the revealing outfits and romantic interludes that the sisters have. And not all this sexy material is purely for the men in the audience, there’s plenty of it for the ladies. I mean there’s a spell that turns animals into hunky but dangerous men on Valentine’s Day, Prue having a heated dalliance with a convicted criminal on the run who isn’t all he seems and the girls reliving their past lives as flapper bad girls who lived in the Manor during the scandalous 1920’s.

The cast on Charmed definitely deliver the goods with aplomb. Shannen Doherty brings mature energy to the part of Prue, who begins to emerge as a confident witch in control of her powers and her life( seen when she quits her job at the auction house and deciding to make a job from her passion for photography). While Prue is often seen as the most serious sister out of The Charmed Ones, Shannen Doherty gives Prue a sense of fun this season that shows that Prue can have a laugh and let loose when she wants to but knows when to keep her emotions in check. Holly Marie Combs charts Piper’s emergence from meek middle sister to much stronger and sarcastic woman with great assurance. It is very pleasing to see Piper grow from being scared and vulnerable to gradually more assertive and feisty thanks to Combs stunning and convincing delivery. Her relationship with Leo is further explored beautifully as they fight against the odds to stay together. Alyssa Milano gives free-spirited energy, a dash of humour and a sense of growing up to Phoebe, who desperately wants to prove she can succeed in life. Milano makes Phoebe such a fun and relatable character who makes mistakes and learns from them. And since she started to practice martial arts last season, she has proven that she can physically fight the enemies that attack after feeling like the sister with the most passive power.

Greg Vaughan as Dan does a credible job as the nice guy who falls for Piper, but his character feels somewhat bland at times. It’s obvious that Piper’s heart belongs with Leo, so why did the writer’s feel the need to introduce Dan? The couple have been through enough obstacles to get to where they are, so why bring in another romantic link? Saying this, you do feel sorry a little for Dan as he is a harmless guy, who realises that the girl he is with love’s someone else. The writer’s flirted with the idea of Piper being with someone else in the form of Dan, but they decided that Leo was the one for her and to be honest it’s a good thing they did because of the emotional connection between Leo and Piper that I always feel so prominently. Dan leaves at the end of the season for a job in another part of the country. The bringing in of Dan’s niece Jenny is a misstep and though Karis Paige Bryant tries her best to make the character a little bit interesting, she has nothing to work with. The writers wisely wrote the character of Jenny out of Charmed as she really didn’t have much of a purpose within the spectrum of the show. Brian Krause continues to flesh Leo out as a character, showing us what he feels like when he has his wings clipped temporarily and he is rendered mortal ( don’t worry he gets his Whitelighter powers back). His relationship with Piper continues to blossom despite all the trouble that is thrown at them and really becomes a moving courtship that will eventually transcend the laws of Witches and Whitelighters not being allowed to love another. Dorian Gregory fills the role of the girl’s inspector friend Darryl with dry humour and eye-rolling disbelief at the situations he finds himself in because of magic. Yet Darryl is also incredibly loyal to the girls and has sworn to keep their secret, hence he often feels protective over them as both a friend and an ally.

And now for my rundown ratings or each individual episode that populates this season:

1. Witch Trial – A
2. Morality Bites – A+
3. The Painted World – B-
4. The Devil’s Music – C
5. She’s a Man, baby, a Man! – B-
6. That Old Black Magic – B
7. They’re Everywhere – B-
8. P3 H2O – A
9. Ms. Hellfire – A+
10. Heartbreak City – B-
11. Reckless Abandon – B-
12. Awakened – A
13. Animal Pragmatism – C
14. Pardon My Past – B+
15. Give Me a Sign – B
16. Murphy’s Luck – B
17. How to Make a Quilt Out of Americans – D
18. Chick Flick – A
19. Ex Libris – C-
20. Astral Monkey – B+
21. Apocalypse, Not – B
22. Be Careful What You Witch For – B

With Season 2, magic is all around as Charmed once again delivers the goods and casts a strong and bewitching spell.

Unfaithful

Tags

2000's, Adrian Lyne, Diane Lane, Drama, Erotic Thriller, Olivier Martinez, Richard Gere, Thriller, Unfaithful

Film Title

Unfaithful

Director

Adrian Lyne

Starring

• Diane Lane as Connie Sumner
• Richard Gere as Edward Sumner
• Olivier Martinez as Paul Martel

Executed with style and erotic frisson from director Adrian Lyne, Unfaithful examines the price of a chance encounter between two people and the subsequently dangerous affair that begins.

Connie Sumner appears to have it all: a beautiful house in a New York suburb, Edward, her loving husband and her excitable young son Charlie. While her marriage seems to be stable and all she could ask for, you can’t help but get the feeling that something is missing from it. One day Connie is picking up supplies for her son’s birthday party in downtown SoHo, when a fierce wind blows in. She is literally thrust into the arms of Paul Martel, a handsome, French book seller. He offers to help her clean up her grazed knee and begins to flirt with her. She initially dismisses this and returns home. Yet somehow this chance meeting with a dashing stranger has deeply left a mark upon her. Although she knows what she is about to do is wrong, Connie throws caution to the wind and returns to see Paul, culminating in a passionate love affair. As the relationship grows bolder and Connie becomes consumed by her obsessive desire for the virile Paul, Edward begins to suspect something is wrong. He hires a private detective to watch his wife’s actions to see if she is playing away. Let’s just say that events become complicated and tragic when passion, jealousy and rage meet head-on.

Director Adrian Lyne is the perfect choice to direct Unfaithful as he has dissected adultery and infidelity in many of his films. He gives Unfaithful a stormy and moody visual style as well as a burning amount of animal passion. The camerawork is marvellous in conveying a sense of foreboding such as the sensual windstorm that sweeps Connie into the path of Paul. One can read it as a precursor to the heat that will inevitably drive their affair, but also as a warning for the damage it will cause in the process. And speaking of intense passion, the many love scenes between Connie and Paul are provocative and supremely sexy. With genuine chemistry, sizzling direction and palpable connection, you can practically feel the heat between the characters locked in this love affair. Unfaithful may be billed as an erotic thriller and certain parts of it conform to the genre, but it fares better as a drama about the price of betrayal and obsessive desire. And while some scenes linger on for longer than needed, one can’t deny the steamy and dramatic pulse of the piece. A slow-burning score of clashing passion and serious indecision gives another layer to Unfaithful.

Diane Lane delivers a standout performance in the central role of Connie. We see that Connie is conflicted and passionate at the idea of an affair, but can’t resist the temptation. Rather than make Connie very unsympathetic as a character, Diane Lane brings something else to the part. Coming across as luminous and natural, we may not agree with what Connie is doing but rather we see her wrestle with the scale of what this affair could bring. The crowning moment of this complex performance is Connie on her journey back from sleeping with Paul. A whole collection of emotions flicker across her face: she’s excited, sad, doubtful and slightly elated by the whole thing and Lane makes her feelings so believable and palpable. It truly is a wonderful performance from Diane Lane that gives Unfaithful a whole lot of impact. Richard Gere turns in a quiet performance as Edward, Connie’s husband suspicious of her whereabouts. He is just a mild-mannered man who wants answers and that’s what makes Connie’s betrayal all the more devastating. There is also a rage to Gere’s performance as he begins to feel the betrayal of the women close to him. Olivier Martinez is mainly required to be virile, charming and seductive and he does this with aplomb as he captures Connie’s attention and won’t let go. While the role isn’t much of a stretch in terms of astonishing acting ability, it fits the part well enough.

Sensual and steamy while also being dramatic, Unfaithful is an erotic drama with stylish direction and excellent work from the cast, especially Diane Lane.

 

My Sixth Liebster Award

Tags

Liebster Award

I gotta thank MIB for this honor, he’s such a cool dude with an even cooler blog. I now have a sixth Liebster Award, and I’m just feeling so good. I love being part of so many great blogs and the feedback on here is what keeps me going.

So here are my answers to his questions:

1. What is your favourite silent film? I haven’t seen that many so I can’t really answer that one.

2. If you could turn a book into a film (that hasn’t been done yet) which one would it be? Playing With the Grownups by Sophie Dahl.

3. Who is your oldest living relative and how old are they? My great Grandma is 83.

4. A bit grim but have you ever thought about faking your own death just to see what people thought of you and how many attend your funeral? The thought has crossed my mind but not very often.

5. How do you sleep – clothed or naked? It depends on the weather.

6. How long do you think you would last if you didn’t have your mobile phone? Quite a long time, I mean I use my phone but I love just switching it off and not being bothered constantly.

7. A classic question – which four famous people from history and /or alive today would you invite to a dinner party? Nelson Mandela, Alfred Hitchcock, Bette Davis and River Phoenix.

8. Do you still have any toys from your childhood that you refuse to part with? I believe I still have a teddy bear somewhere around the house.

9. Is there a schoolteacher from your past you’d like to go back in time and punch them in the face? Quite a few, but for legal reasons I won’t name them.

10. Do you use an electric or standard toothbrush? I use both.

11. What is your favourite foreign language/World Cinema film? If I had to choose it would be City of God

And as I can’t whittle down all the blogs I follow to 11, I will nominate five bloggers.

1. Emma
2. Vampire Placebo
3. Kim
4. Jordan Dodd
5. Pete

And here are 11 questions for the nominees:

1. Do you get embarrassed when it comes to sex scenes in movies?
2. What movie do you never want to watch again?
3. Do you believe in love at first sight?
4. What place do you feel the most relaxed?
5. Do you consider yourself a good dancer?
6. What do you think is your best feature?
7. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
8. Is there a famous person who have a deep admiration for?
9. Are you a reality TV fan?
10. If you had to take on another alias, what would name and job description be?
11. What is your biggest pet hate?

 

 

Wild Things

Tags

1990's, Bill Murray, Denise Richards, Erotic Thriller, John McNaughton, Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Theresa Russell, Thriller, Wild Things

Film Title

Wild Things

Director

John McNaughton

Starring

• Matt Dillon as Sam Lombardo
• Kevin Bacon as Detective Ray Duquette
• Neve Campbell as Suzie Toller
• Denise Richards as Kelly Van Ryan
• Theresa Russell as Sandra Van Ryan
• Bill Murray as Ken Bowden

Trashy, flashy, yet deliciously twisted and entertaining, Wild Things is not exactly going to go down as one of the best thrillers in the genre. But with twists a plenty and curve balls throwing you at every turn, it’s impossible not to be caught up in this sordid and deceptive film even if it is a hell of a guilty pleasure.

Sam Lombardo is a handsome and popular high school counselor trying to climb to the social elite of the paradise that is Blue Bay, Florida. He is lusted after by most women in town who wouldn’t mind a piece of him. One such girl is the bitchy but buxom Kelly Van Ryan, who has her advances rebuffed when she attempts to seduce him after washing his car for a fundraiser. Events take an unexpected turn when Kelly accuses Sam of rape. The once respected counselor’s life is torn to shreds by the accusations as they head to court. And to make matters worse, another student in the form of trailer trash punk Suzie Toller also accuses him of rape. Yet when the case arrives in courts, the real fireworks go off. What initially appears to be an open shut case becomes ever more complicated as Suzie reveals that the girls were lying to get back at Lombardo for dating Kelly’s harridan of a mother Sandra. With the case then apparently settled, everyone tries to go about their lives again. But Inspector Ray Duquette who was assigned to the case when the accusations were made is not so convinced that the case is over and smelling a rat, digs deeper into the sordid case. What he discovers is that no one is what they seem as beautiful but fatal women, multiple motives and double crosses collide in a steamy and seriously twisted game.

Straight off the bat, director John McNaughton gives us simultaneous shots of the murky Everglades and bikini-clad lovelies, to ensnare us into this world of money, lust and suspicion. And McNaughton is not above exploiting the body and pleasures of the flesh for the audience’s desire. I mean some of these scenes play out like something from an adult movie, tinged with a twisty plot thrown in. We have Kelly slinking out of a pool in a tight blue swimsuit, slowly combing her hair and patting herself down in slow motion. A vicious catfight between Suzie and Kelly that leads to a passionate kiss. And not forgetting the infamous menage a trois between Sam, Kelly and Suzie. For all its sleaziness and sometimes ridiculousness, Wild Things is actually quite a deceptive film that does leave you guessing who is telling the truth in a web of lies and lust, that is strangely reminiscent of Noir. It appears that from Wild Things that for all the alligators and snakes that populate the swamps, no creatures are as slimy as those in this movie. The horn and percussive drenched score further brings an erotic and dangerous pulse to the movie.

Considering the sometimes laughable B-movie dialogue on show, the actors at least look like they’re having a blast playing such dangerous and unpredictable characters. Matt Dillon has that smug grin that is called into question by accusations. Yet for all the seemingly pleas, Dillon makes Sam a character who you really aren’t sure whether to root for or hate. Kevin Bacon, who in my opinion can always be relied up to deliver, is great here as the inspector obsessed with busting open the unusual case and getting more than he bargained for. Neve Campbell plays it deceptively cool as the morally complex Suzie, who by turns vulnerable, lonely, strange and very elusive. Denise Richards is never going to go down as a great actress but she is suitably sexy and catty as the blue-blooded sexpot whose accusations set in motion the strange and unpredictable case. Theresa Russell is loose and unrestrained as Kelly’s mother who is prone to fits of rage and diva like antics. But it’s Bill Murray in a small role who has the most fun. As the ambulance-chasing, low-rent lawyer of Sam, Murray has a blast playing this quick-witted and slightly scheming guy.

Sleazy, erotic and dark-hearted, Wild Things is pure guilty pleasure, with a few neat twists thrown in for good measure.