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Reviews
The X Files: Firewalker (1994)
Underrated
I had heard some mediocre reviews of this episode, so I had never bothered to see it for a long time, but when I did I was glad. Although it had elements that were very close to the episode "Ice", it was extremely well-made and genuinely eerie and disgusting. I especially liked the special effects of the bulging throats, which was very realistic and gross. Again, although it rips off Ice a bit, the fact is that Ice is a really good episode and this episode, being so similar, shows that quality. I believe it would be received very well by a viewer who had never seen Ice. Also, I found the character of Trepkos and the parallels between his relationship with Jesse and Mulder's relationship with Scully, and both their relationships with the truth, very intriguing; more so than the characters in Ice. The last act in particular was very well-directed and heart-pounding. As for the writing, it was good, especially Trepkos's dialogue and monologue, although there were some plot holes/ideas that were never tied up or expanded on.
Also, chalk it up to being a West Wing fan, but I found the character of Trepkos to be unbelievably sexy. I'd rewatch the episode just to look at him :)
A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969)
A mixed but beautiful presentation
I would say that in parts of this movie, this is possibly the ultimate showcasing of Charlie Brown's loser persona in animation. The first part of the movie, as well as the last part, were the best. It was fabulous up until the introduction of the spelling bee storyline. It then flagged, being moderately enjoyable, but rather bland, slow-moving, and not quite in its element. The songs, I have to admit, are really, really boring. There were a few good parts, like Schroeder's Beethoven Fantasia and Snoopy's skating sequence, but overall the main story section was mediocre. However, the quality leaped hugely the moment Charlie Brown lost the spelling bee. The silent, unaddressed, but cruelly obvious dejection and failure in Charlie Brown's trip back home, and the getting ready for bed was painful in its realism and depressiveness. Even though the Peanuts specials were so much more kid-friendly than the comic strip, they still never broke the golden rule that things don't ever, ever turn out right, unless there's a very, very good reason (i.e. "A Charlie Brown Christmas"), and they stayed faithful to that concept in the movie.
I think that the very beginning and very ending of the movie were the best. I loved the beginning sequence. To the viciously saccharine lyrics of "A Boy Named Charlie Brown", Charlie Brown happily makes a kite, pats it fondly and goes outside. It is immediately pulverized by the wind. Silent and dogged, he goes back inside and makes another kite, the reused animation here doing much, much more here than being a shortcut. He then goes out, is taunted by the Kite-Eating tree, and in a fit of bravado, tries to fly the kite. It fails so pathetically that you laugh despite your sympathy. It then goes on to Charlie Brown's woes, Lucy's cruelty, etc., which flows beautifully until the spelling bee.
The very end, after Charlie Brown's aforementioned silent misery, Linus, the only one who cares about Charlie Brown, of course comes by. Charlie Brown is apathetic, limp, and uncaring. No anger or self-pity here, he has simply been quietly crushed under this final defeat. And here, Linus utters one of the most simple yet deep pieces of philosophy he has ever uttered, in true Schulz language:
"Well, I can understand how you feel. You worked hard, studying for the spelling bee, and I suppose you feel you let everyone down, and you made a fool of yourself and everything."
He goes to the door and pauses.
"But did you notice something, Charlie Brown?"
Charlie Brown: "What's that?"
"The world didn't come to an end."
And with that, he leaves, dragging his blanket behind him.
And slowly, rather painfully, but without a word, Charlie Brown sits up, dresses, and goes outside, where "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" strikes up again to mirror the beginning. Charlie Brown has gone nowhere, he has failed, he's stuck in the same position as he was before. But as Linus said, the world didn't come to an end. Just like in "A Charlie Brown Christmas", Linus comes unobtrusively to the rescue, without any proper acknowledgment of his role. Linus is the kind of person everyone in the whole world probably wishes they knew. The song is right, "We're all a boy named Charlie." We all fail, get let down for no good reason, wallow in self-pity, and never understand. There are many Charlie Browns in this world, and very few Linuses. No one relates to him, but everyone recognizes and thanks him with awed respect. And in spite of all this meaningless and unwarranted failure, Charlie Brown goes on like a real person. In most fiction, good people win, hard work is paid off, and somehow, sometime, everyone gets what they deserve and all loose ends are tied up. Not so in Peanuts. Charles Schulz's world is cruel and illogical. There is no real ending, only dull reality and a resigned step back into square one. But Charlie Brown, unlike most real people, has Linus.
And that, despite the movie's awful blah-ness throughout the middle, makes this movie get a great 9/10.
The X Files: Dreamland (1998)
My Two Favorite Episodes EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This, and part two, are my very favorite episodes of the X-Files I have ever seen! It's classic X-Files, UFO's, government conspiracies, Area 51!! There's a "laugh-like-a-drunk-Daffy Duck" moment every two minutes, the Duck Soup parody, the switched Hopi woman and pilot, Scully's reaction to who she thinks is Mulder, Fletcher trying to woo her, Fletcher's reaction to Mulder and the Lone Gunmen, Mulder's reaction to Jo Ann and his coworkers, the realization of all the mix-ups(Hilarious one-liners funny enough for a laugh track ensue throughout all these!) Iswear, I have never in my life laughed so much in two hours as I did while watching this! If I tried to list all the kick-ass quotes in this episode I'd have a giant list.
There are also truly touching and deep moments, such as the talk Mulder and Scully have when she tells him he may never get back, and Fletcher convincing Jo Ann that it's him. The direction, acting, music and the writing of this episode is simply exquisite. This is true classic X-Files, and a masterpiece. And what in the world can beat the bewildered look on Mulder's face at the end of part II?
The X Files: Dreamland II (1998)
My two favorite episodes EVER!!!!!!
This, and part one, are my very favorite episodes of the X-Files I have ever seen! It's classic X-Files, UFO's, government conspiracies, Area 51!! There's a "laugh-like-a-drunk-Daffy Duck" moment every two minutes, the Duck Soup parody, the switched Hopi woman and pilot, Scully's reaction to who she thinks is Mulder, Fletcher trying to woo her, Fletcher's reaction to Mulder and the Lone Gunmen, Mulder's reaction to Jo Ann and his coworkers, the realization of all the mix-ups are just a few of them(Hilarious one-liners funny enough for a laugh track ensue throughout all these!) Iswear, I have never in my life laughed so much in two hours as I did while watching this! If I tried to list all the kick-ass quotes in this episode I'd have a giant list.
There are also truly touching and deep moments, such as the talk Mulder and Scully have when she tells him he may never get back, and Fletcher convincing Jo Ann that it's him. The direction, acting, music and the writing of this episode is simply exquisite. This is true classic X-Files, and a masterpiece. And what in the world can beat the bewildered look on Mulder's face at the end of part II?
What's Opera, Doc? (1957)
Pure Beauty
I cannot even find the words to describe the greatness of this cartoon. It is officially listed as the greatest cartoon ever, and it darn well deserves it. As I have said, it was simply beautiful. The elegance and detail that went into it surpasses that of anything I've ever seen. Everything from the lightning storm to the end gag was breathtaking. Chuck Jones is the Einstein of animation direction, without a doubt. It was also hilarious, not the laugh-out-loud hilarious of other great Bugs Bunny cartoons, but with subtle irony and ridiculousness ("Kill the Wabbit! Kill the Wabbit!"). The sensitivity astounds me, it's a metaphor of the whole Elmer/Bugs scene, the subconscious trust and dependency they have in each other beautifully represented by the ballet, and love song, and the consequences of Elmer's short-sightedness and Bugs' naivety tragically displayed in the finale. The little touches, like the intricately designed ballet scene, the tension of the helmet falling down the stairs, and the chilling image of the dress floating behind Bugs as he flees vainly from his doom, all accompanied by musical gags, timing, and style that has only been contested by my favorite "The Rabbit of Seville", sets off the scenes perfectly. The ending was for sure the crowning point of the whole cartoon, the sequence of the terrible lightning attack, Bugs' limp, crumpled corpse in the midst of the splintered mountain, (one of the greatest moments of animation history), Elmer's "Poor wittle wabbit" mourning, and, too top it all, the magnificent finale of Elmer carrying Bugs through the golden radiance to Valhalla, and, inevitably, Bugs' last quip, tops off this exquisite expression of greatness. This is also, I believe, the only cartoon tragedy I have ever seen, Bugs DOES die, the wabbit IS finally killed by Elmer, while Bugs did not do anything to deserve it it: the very definition of a tragedy. And yet, Bugs does not "lose", Elmer gets his comeuppance, the guilt of killing him, and his character break of "well, what did you expect in an opera, a happy ending?" still asserts that even his own death cannot defeat the great rabbit. He is a god, the Trickster god, and although mortal, cannot be beaten. There has never been, and will never be, another cartoon like this one.
Carrotblanca (1995)
A Spectacular and Hilarious Tribute!
Spectacular! A hilarious spoof of the enchanting movie "Casablanca". I was amazed at how fully a cartoon captured the movie's sentiment. I loved everything, the characterization, the story, and the gags. Bugs Bunny confusing General Pandemonium (Yosemite Sam) into jail was very reminiscent of countless classic cartoons, and the same with Daffy Duck as Sam (the piano player). Tweety as Ugarte (eh-he-he) was PRICELESS!! But Bugs Bunny as Rick was the best. I never would have guessed it, but he was perfect for the role. My only complaint is that it was too short. There should have been a good bit for all the story and history, and then a good bit for action and all the classic pranks. So maybe 10-15 minutes instead of seven? However, it was still a great and very funny tribute!