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emmabrock
Reviews
Barbie Fairytopia: Mermaidia (2006)
An Unexpected Great
I'll admit that I was a little skeptical when I saw the title. I started watching with the worst expectations. But from the very first moment, upon seeing this vibrant world that had been created, I was engaged.
This is an incredibly simple story that still, somehow, avoids talking down to its young viewership. The visual aspect of the movie is strong, with bright colors and a fairy-tale brilliance that is strong above- and below-water. Characters often proved to be expressive both visually and aurally, as animators captured realistic emotions and actors used complex character voices. Elina is voiced by Kelly Sheridan, who manages to make a rich, elegant voice sound youthful. Lee Tockar provides much of the humor of the movie with his slapstick deliveries of Bibble and Fungus 1 and 2, which are perfectly matched with more fantastic animation of expression.
All in all, this movie showed a great creativity for it's type that was not limited by the Barbie formula. Dialogue often garnered laughs from adults as well as children, and both were engaged by the classic fairy-tale world that was the backdrop for the story. All in all, this was a movie that children would watch over and over again. Don't discount it as I did, and after you've seen and enjoyed it, talk about it to your friends! It's a shame that it hasn't received the attention it deserves.
Wildfire (2005)
Charmingly Empty of Substance
"Wildfire" isn't exactly a breakthrough teen drama series, by any means. Much of the dialogue wouldn't be out of place in an episode of "Dawson's Creek" or "The OC," and neither, to some extent, would be the story "Wildfire" tells. And yet, the show has a real charm that makes it just fun to watch.
Kris Furillo (Genevieve Cortese) is a girl who seems to specialize in being in the wrong place at the wrong time. When we first meet her, she's a prisoner at a juvenile detention facility, paying for the crime of helping to steal a car and resisting arrest. In her time in prison, she's not only "learned a little discipline" (which, after watching a couple episodes of the show, really makes you wonder what she was like BEFORE she got locked up) but also learned to ride and love horses, with the help of Pablo Betart (Greg Serano). Betart, an ex-con himself, also works at a horse ranch called Raintree, which is owned by the Ritters: Jean, Jean's father, and Jean's two sons, Matt and Todd. As Kris settles into life at Raintree, she makes really good friends -- Pablo, the Ritters (Matt in particular), Matt's friend, Junior Davis -- and really bad enemies -- Matt's ex-girlfriend Dani Davis and her friends, and others that seem to just keep on coming. Watch as Kris faces challenges and learns more about horses, and herself.
It's a guilty pleasure show, but it's definitely a pleasure. "Wildfire" airs Monday nights at 8pm on ABC family. The DVDs for the first season are available in some stores, and episodes are easy to buy on iTunes, for $1.99 each!
America's Next Top Model (2003)
It's Not Quality, But It's Fun
America's Next Top Model is reality television without pretensions. Or, rather, it's a reality television show with pretensions that are so obvious, they're impossible to hide. It's a show about being shallow, daring, energetic, humble, and, of course, absolutely gorgeous. Led by Tyra Banks and a variety of photographers, stylists, acting coaches, directors, designers, and EX-ex-models, ANTM will go to all kinds of lengths to grab your attention.
From four blonde beauties doing a high-fashion shoot in Venice to soap-opera style acting classes with Taye Diggs, to old-fashioned nudity and sex (on- and off-camera), every season, every episode, will grab your attention. It's not quality television, but it's fun and addictive and all over the place. Don't invest money in the original series of Bankable Productions, but if you've got a free minute, check it out on VH1. They might have a marathon on. And - who knows? It might be that episode with the wet t-shirt pillow fight.
The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
It was a Great, BAD Movie
Anyone who's seen Battlefield Earth will agree with me when I say that there is NOTHING funnier than a movie with money, an all-star cast, an original script--that somehow ends up being completely abysmal. The Chronicles of Riddick is a must see for all science fiction/fantasy fans, weaving together the most over-used clichés, all-too-common "original" characters (I mean, they've got an Elemental!), and a hero that objectifies women, is unbelievably arrogant, is voluntarily BALD--and yet is undeniably attractive.
In this sequel to Pitch Black, Riddick (Vin Diesel) is thrown back into the world he has so tried to avoid when greedy mercenaries attempt to capture him to win the bounty on his head. After escaping (with the obligatory special effects and tough-guy come-back lines) he finds himself with the burden of the world on his nicely-muscular shoulders. With saving the world on his to-do list, he still (somehow) finds the time to seek out the once-prepubescent Jack-now-Kyra (Alexa Devalos) who has somehow turned into a gorgeous twenty-something criminal with an artistically torn shirt. No, I'm not concentrating on the small things. The ripped shirt doesn't expose anything that is...um...SMALL.
Moving past the double-Ds, Riddick and Jack/Kyra outrun a fatal sunrise (yeah, i know...think less, drink more, okay?), have lots of adventures together, take turns acting evil but still (invariably) staying GOOD, and live happily ever after. Except...uh...not.
All the reviews said this movie sucked, and it did. (It really, REALLY did), but you've got to see it nonetheless, 'cause you haven't lived until you've seen Vin Diesel doing gymnastics on a chain in slow motion. Now THAT'S comedy.