Kimputer's Weblog

A new show from ABC with an eighties feeling to it. Karen Cisco, a tough US Marshall, is a very standard heroine type of girl, and it shows. There not much new to learn about her. While the show is setup to be focused on her, and not too much to the case, which should be a good sign, I still have no feeling of what’s really going on, beyond all the cliches, that is. The babbling with her father, the small talk in the office, nothing adds up to a good show. All fingers point to a character driven show, but somehow, in the execution, something must’ve gone awry, coz in the end, it’s pretty boring.

Starting a new season with a two parter, the story is still strong, and the character, while familiar, are still interesting. While other shows keep the focus on the weekly cases, CSI still leaves enough room left for the characters, and that keeps it head and shoulders above even its own spin-off CSI:Miami. While it lacked exactly this during the third season, we can only hope that the production team of CSI and CSI:Miami (which needed the start up period) are seperated enough to work indepedently now.

A new series from UPN, focusing on a not so hero type nerd, who gets superhuman powers by accident in an NSA lab. Episodes are a mix of spy type mysteries and personal development, as the nerd must cope with his new powers, his previous failures with women and his new job as an NSA agent. The whole nerd-hero thing still works, as does the shaky experiences with women, but the future will show if that’s enough to keep a show running.

A new ABC series, focused on terrorism. A team of special agents, each with a specific task, hunts them down. The sensitivity on this issue makes the show a streamlined, cut to the chase type of show, with an over the top stern and serious look. Not only does catching a terrorist week in, week out, make it a bit unbelievable, this whole setup leaves no room for other aspects, such as humor, character development or anything else. The standard hero type is so empty, it’s not interesting at all. As a propagande machine it even tops series like JAG or NCIS. I would give this show a second chance, but hey, it probably makes the US citizens sleep better, so expect a few more season.

Wired News reports that already 3 Nokia phones have blown up. All victims suffering from burns. Last case is Vietnam, with 2 previous back here in Holland.
Don’t worry just yet though (coz I know just about 40% of you readers are using a Nokia), current investigations show in the previous 2 cases, counterfeit batteries werre used. Nokia assures us this will NOT happen with the original (much more expensive) batteries, as a safety mechanism prevent it from heating up after a short-circuit (from a drop to the ground, for instance) (assuming that the safety mechanism still works, that is {:) ).
So, just continue using it, and _when_ it blows up _with_ the original battery, THEN you can sue Nokia’s ass off. Howzdat ?

Right from the start you get into the flowing dialogue of Will and Martin, like nothing really changed since the first part. As a team they’re still strong, and it shows well on the screen. And so the action begins. And the funny dialogue. And the suspense. And the car chases. All the way through the full two and a half hours. Michael Bay, seemingly a standard action director, pulls off some nice inventive shots too. As an homage to the late Don Simpson it’s produced under the Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Productions banner, and Jerry made sure we got a LOT of bang for the normal ticket price.8.

Oh yeah, no surprise there. He got to be governor till at least 2006 (the rest of the term Davis was originally to be serving). Polls were showing nearly 40% in favor of Arnold before the vote, so it was as exciting as seeing some metal revealed in any random Terminator movie. I would have believed his political ambitions more so if only he didn’t utter his acceptance speech like he was acting.
So, what’s next ? Probably a book entitled “How to become a governor in just 2 months”.

While this movie has its ups and downs, overall, it’s a good written story with nice ideas. Unlike most slasher movies, this one has a real drive behind it, with much more real characters. The director creates a nice atmosphere, while cutting up the events in an interesting way.7+.

BBC reports:
“Scientists have developed a male contraceptive which was 100% effective and side-effect free in trials.”
This is a progestin based solution (a very female hormone) with injections needed every 3 or 4 months. This temporarily stops the brain from sending the normal signal to produce sperm.
The side-effect is a lowered sex-drive (and probably a higher pitched voice). This will be counter-acted by shots of testosterone.
As with most hormone treatments, when stopped, everything will return to normal after a few months (or so they say).
Is this totally out of control, or what ?
Can all the guys say it with me: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah !!!

Rate 1 (FR#^&% MESS !) to 5 (how very tidy !). Only rate the latest picture, otherwise I can’t keep track of the average.

Total: 895 out of 247 votes > Average is: 3.623

Yupz, a second batch just came in, only 2 months overdue, “Magnolia” Special Edition, and “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” Special Edition. That leaves only one lawsuit pending.

Like previous entries about weird science research, usually squandering our tax money, there’s actually a prize for it to be earned.
Take a look here for the igNobel winners of this year.
For instance, Biology went to a Dutchmen ” for documenting the first scientifically recorded case of homosexual necrophilia in the mallard duck”. Can’t say I’m proud of that.

Did you know it’s more likely you land a role on a cop show in the States than to win two hundred bucks in any random lottery ? The last five years, not only reality shows have sprouted like mushrooms on TV, but the cop/law enforcement kinda TV shows are right on par.

Here’s a list of oldies:

Law&Order (NBC)
NYPD Blue (ABC)
Cops (Fox)
JAG (CBS)

Here’s a list of new ones over the past 3 years, and they haven’t replaced the previous list, no, they have been added !

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) – Jerry Bruckheimer’s shot at TV
CSI: Miami (CBS) – dito
Cold Case (CBS) – Focussing on old unsolved cases, also a Bruckheimer’s.
Without a Trace (CBS) – Does Bruckheimer ever stop to catch a breath ? Another one, focusing on missing persons
Robbery Homicide Division/LA (CBS) – standard cop show
The District (CBS) – Focusing on the chief of the Washington D.C. district
The Handler (CBS) – Joe Pantoliano plays an FBI agent who trains rookies
Hack (CBS) – Ex cop driving around in a cab, still fighting crime
NCIS (CBS) – This Navy Crime Investigative Service is a JAG spin-off, with a bit of copy-catting the style of CSI
Law&Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)
Law&Order: Criminal Intent (NBC)
Third Watch (NBC) – Only half of this show is focused on the cops
Hunter (NBC) – revival of the old 80-ties series
Boomtown (NBC) – The same crime seen from all angles (cops, bad guys, etc)
Crossing Jordan (NBC) – Medical examiner works with the police
24 (Fox) – Jack Bauer, former special agent, head of CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit)
Fastlane (Fox) – Charlie’s Angels director McG’s view of a hip cop show with fast cars
Threat Matrix (ABC) – Another show featuring special agents focusing on terrorism
Alias (ABC) – Jennifer Garner plays an undercover double agent who works for the CIA
Karen Cisco (ABC) – She’s an US Marshall, based on the Out of Sight movie (which was then played by Jennifer Lopez)
Monk (ABC) – Tony Shalhoub plays a former police detective with some obsessive compulsive traits
Dragnet (ABC) – another 80-ties revival
10-8: Officers on Duty (ABC) – Nudding interesting here either.
Jake2.0 (UPN) – Young NSA tech dude turned agent
Peacemakers (USA) – Tom Berenger is a sheriff of a small town

And these are show that are currently on the air !!! In those three years a few got created and cancelled after one or two seasons (UC: Undercover, The Agency, Special Unit 2, Haunted, John Doe)

A long list, with only a handful worth watching (CSI’s strong writing, 24’s glued on chair storyline and Alias’ extended story arch). But I still suggest you watch them all, so you can see that most of them are so alike, it’s not fun anymore, even if it’s meant to lift the spirit of all those US citizens.

Still a mixed bag, as there are still some senseless one story episodes, but then comes the next one, which is another well integrated show continuing the story arch. With more setbacks along the way, desperate moves are required, so the series still has a few breaths left if it continues this way, and a few seasons if it is able to improve what it’s doing now.

Nicolas Cage as a neurotic conman does another wonderful job in this cute movie. Being a character driven story, it moves along nicely, while getting a nice twist at the end. A delight between all the standard issue movies released lately.8-.