Category: Television Reviews

Finding Plenty of Character with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

AgentsEd Sum: Is it my imagination or is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. a re-imagining of Torchwood? I love the set up of this series and the characters that are introduced.

Agent Phil Coulson has this nice wry humour that Clark Gregg knows how to finesse, and it gives this series some light-hearted moments that I would not consider to be overly hilarious. Many fans of this series may well be wondering how the heck did he come back to life? Or, did he even die in the first place? That answer may well never be answered, but as I continue to watch this show, hopefully more clues will be given.

My theory is that he’s a clone, with all the memories of the original Coulson transplanted into him.

James Shaw: Before I watched the first episode, I thought that since Gregg was in this series, that it would take place in a timeline before the Avengers movie. It’s obvious to me that this is not true and I am left with the feeling of a cop-out. On one hand I can understand why they need Clark Gregg for this series, because how many were truly going to watch a series without Gregg attached to the cast.

But I just can’t help getting that sinking feeling. I think it was the same feeling when I saw the ending to the Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. Having him not commit seppuku like the rest of the samurai in the end left it with a true Hollywood ending where the star had to survive beyond all costs even if his character’s dignity was left with questions.

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Breaking down the Next Stage of Dragons: Defenders of Berk

How Defenders of Berk will continue will be interesting since the team will have to learn more about how to function as a unit.

Dragons_defenders_of_berk_poster_1A sure sign that the How to Train Your Dragon series has entered the mainstream consciousness is when it starts to allude to well known movies in pop culture. In this case, the premiere episode of Dragons: Defenders of Berk, refers to the Dragon Training Academy as a secret Flight than Fight Club. That’s because, in the wake of the previous season’s finale where Alvin and the Outcasts finally learn the secret of how to train the dragons they captured, Hiccup’s team has been banned from patrolling the isle of Berk.

Stoick, Hiccup’s father, is afraid that the youths are in over their heads with what’s coming.

The citizens of Berk will face invasion by Alvin’s tribe. It is coming. Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Tuff and Ruff think they can handle it, but Stoick does not. He thinks they do not have the skills as fully trained warriors. They have to know how to fight.

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Putting the Smackdown on Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.

But when the series does not have enough spark to it, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. may well be more of a passer upper than a must follow.

PosterThe producers at Marvel Animation must think the same visual and narrative style used in Ultimate Spider-Man can be repeated with the new series, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.

Instead of Peter Parker providing the creative commentary by breaking the fourth wall, Rick Jones (voiced by Seth Green) is providing the narrative by creating a video blog of everything that happens to the Hulk (Fred Tatasciore). He is out to prove to the world that the Hulk is not a beast.

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JTV’s Best of Anime! Summer 2013

My experience with anime started with Battle of the Planets in the late 1970’s and it finished with anime programs in the mid to late 90’s. I had somehow lost interest. I guess one could say it was the changing style, that anime was for the young or it could’ve been the boob and panty shots that were becoming so prevalent.

Whatever the reason, I walked away. I made an attempt to watch anime again in 2004 and I admit there were a couple of shows that held my interest. But now with my third attempt I’m determined to see the good amongst the bad (or the most horrid) that is out there. To become a true geek I shall have to reacquaint myself with anime, one of my first loves. Maybe I’ll even attend a anime con or two in 2014 (My last con was AX ’95). But for the future I plan to write seasonal Japanese television reviews both animated and live action. Enjoy!

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Transformers Prime: “Deadlock” Between What the Fans Want and the Series Concluding… (or not?)

Sadly, Transformers Prime has come to the end with this finale and we take a look at what made it special, along with notes in what’s coming.

BumblebeeFans of Transformers Prime will no doubt laugh, cheer and cry while watching “Deadlock,” the finale to the television series. It does a good job at providing a climax that viewers have waited for but it is not a definitive conclusion. While fans will see a be-all end-all showdown between Optimus and Megatron, the surprise this episode brings will get many fans applauding.

But this season fell short to being grandiose or as a successor to the wildly spectacular season two. At least this season had its moments with “Plus One,” “Chain of Command” and “Thirst.” The rest was basically one huge movie being cut up into chunks to fit into a weekly dramatic schedule.

When considering one lingering story thread has not been addressed, the fight is not over yet. Ever since Optimus suggested that Smokescreen should be the next Prime, this plot point mostly gets forgotten when this rookie decides its best to remain who he is than to rise above his station.

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Monsters vs Aliens vs the TV

Nickelodeon and Dreamworks’ low-key promotion for Monsters vs Aliens the Animated Series isn’t helping.

monsters-vs-aliens-post-3Dreamworks’ movie Monsters vs Aliens (MvA) was a great tribute to the iconic monster movies from the 50’s. These creatures banded together to fight space invaders. The two direct-to-video sequels, Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space and Night of the Living Carrots played tribute to Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and Night of the Living Dead. They were hilariously well done. Fans could see that the production teams involved in those products clearly loved the genre, and that fondness is evident in how these three tales are produced.

But what happened to that love in the television series? The television premiere on Nickelodeon was barely passable. The team involved in bringing the series to the small screen must not share the same passion that the story creators of this series, Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon, had. The premise of the television show lack punch.

By episode two and three, all the fun drama and humor from the movie and direct-to-video shorts are gone in favor for more derivative product in the style of Spongebob Squarepants. Even when Susan loses her ability to turn into a giant, the depth she expresses for her lost ability is minuscule. Some viewers may well wonder if any of these any decent character development will occur in the series.

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