Rugrats Go Wild (review)

I can’t pretend to appreciate for myself the eww-gross humor of Rugrats and their dirty-diaper jokes, but it delights me to see that kids today do appreciate such an imaginative crew of enthusiastic youngsters as Tommy Pickles and his pals. And ya gotta love The Wild Thornberrys with its pro-environment undercurrent and its snarky depiction … more…

Soldier’s Girl and Jasper, Texas (review)

If you’re not already miserably depressed at the state of the world and how awful people can be and the terrible crimes that get perpetrated under a cloak of religion or ideology or politics, or if you just don’t think that pretending stuff like this doesn’t happen helps one bit, then tune into Showtime this month for *Soldier’s Girl* and *Jasper, Texas,* which amply demonstrate the cable network’s commitment to excellence in its original programming.

The Fast and the Furious and 2 Fast 2 Furious (review)

I approached my parked car after the screening, I found myself wishing it was something a little zippier than a poky little Saturn, and boy I bet a Saturn would be pretty cool tricked out for street racing. And as I drove home, I found myself wondering if those buttons on either side of the steering wheel would ignite the tanks of nitrous oxide under the backseat. (No — they were still for the horn.)

Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune (review)

Sci Fi Channel remade David Lynch’s adaptation of Dune as something less bizarre and baroque but something more comprehensible, and now the network returns with a sequel, based on the second and third books in Frank Herbert’s beloved series of novels. Paul Atreides (Alec Newman) of House Atreides, previously revealed as the prophesied savior Muad’dib, … more…

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Complete Season One (review)

Post-Dances with Wolves liberal reinterpretations of the settling of the West by Europeans were never more popular or family-friendly than that embodied by this earnest if unchallenging CBS TV series. Just after the Civil War, patrician lady doctor Michaela “Mike” Quinn (Jane Seymour) heads west from Boston to Colorado Springs to ply her then-unlikely trade … more…

Charlie’s Angels: The Complete First Season (review)

Their release is designed to cash in on Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, but these 24 episodes of the 70s TV series aren’t likely to captivate a teenage audience: The car-chasing, gun-toting action is slower moving than we’ve become used to, and the productions are typically cheesy. But there’s a lot of camp appeal for 30somethings … more…

Babylon 5: The Complete Second Season: The Coming of Shadows (review)

In the year 2259, space station Babylon 5, crewed by humans and positioned in neutral territory, serves as a peaceful hub for four alien races — the Narn, Centauri, Vorlon, and Minbari — who fight for control of the surrounding galaxy. Creator J. Michael Straczynski’s visionary five-year story arc made the series tough to join … more…

Whale Rider (review)

This is what the world needs: more movies about challenging the status quo and bucking the system and not taking no for an answer when you know you’re right and being true to yourself because you have no choice but to do so. The world needs more movies about girls smashing patriarchal bullshit and claiming their rightful places in society, and fewer films about girls being kooky ‘nonconformist’ by tripping adorably klutzy over their own feet and larding around Europe wearing lip gloss and claiming as their greatest accomplishment in life falling in love with guys with accents.

Shortcuts

These reviews have moved — sorry for the inconvenience. click here for Babylon 5: The Complete Second Season: The Coming of Shadows review click here for Charlie’s Angels: The Complete First Season review click here for Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Complete Season One review click here for Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune review click … more…