Mystery

I watched the Watchmen

  • Title: The Watchmen
  • IMDb: link

watchmen-poster

As a self-professed comic book nerd you can bet I’ve read Watchmen a few times and keep an Absolute Edition within easy reach. I will also admit I didn’t read the series when it hit shelves in the late eighties. It took a few years for Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ work to find itself into my hands. Perhaps its because I first read the graphic novel as an adult that I can look at it through a different filter than something like Star Wars, Transformers, or Batman, and I can separate my appreciation for the subject without childhood wonder coloring my opinion.

Although it brings to life several moments of the comic in vivid detail, and includes a superb performance by Jackie Earl Haley as Rorshach, it also condenses, mangles, and distorts the tale into a movie that only slightly resembles the comic. And for a movie which is style over substance it adds very little in terms of look or technology. The most memorable shots are either taken directly from the page or borrowed from better films (such as a war room eerily similar to that of Dr. Strangelove) you would rather be watching.

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Psych all mashed up

  • Title: Psych
  • tv.com: link

Psych, the USA Network original about a psychic detective who’s not so much a psychic (or a detective), returns for a new season on Friday at 10/9C. I must admit I’m pretty psych-ed as I’ve been a fan of the zaniness (including many 80’s pop culture references) of the show since it first aired. The official site has tons of fun stuff fans of the show can enjoy including clips, games, quizes, and the ability to make your own Psych Mashup. Head on over to make your own! Here’s mine.

psych-mashups

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Bones – Season 3 on DVD

  • Title: Bones – The Complete Third Season
  • tv.com: link

“You know, this is our first Christmas as a couple.”

“Aw, too bad Santa’s dead.”

Dr Temperance “Bones” Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and Special Agent Sealy Booth (David Boreanaz) return to solve another season of bone-chlling (pun-intended) mysteries.

I became a quick fan of the show enjoying not only the mystery of the week but the chemistry of the cast.  This season includes the deepening of Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) and Angela’s (Michaela Conlin) relationship, the search for Angela’s long lost husband, a new cannibal serial killer, the murder of Santa Claus, a Halloween adventure with real skeletons, and the poor decision making of Zack (Eric Millegan).

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Psych – The Complete Second Season

  • Title: Psych – The Complete Second Season
  • tv.com: link

psych-season-two-dvdPsychic Detecive Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best pal Gus (Dulé Hill) return for a second season of wacky antics, 80’s references, and crime solving. The Season Two investigations include attempted murder of a reality-TV celebrity judge (Tim Curry), an FBI counterfeiting investigation, a former bully (Ben Giroux) in need of help, Gus taking a turn as the psychic, Henry (Corbin Bernsen) going undercover at a retirement community, murder at a secret society, a trip back to school, and evil nannies.

Also this season the pair (only somewhat successfully) try their hands at bounty hunting and male modeling, get a visit from Gus’ wife (Kerry Washington), spend time on the set of Spanish soap opera, and try to keep both of Gus’ parents (Ernie HudsonPhylicia Rashad) out jail for murder.

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The Walker

  • Title: The Walker
  • IMDb: link

The WalkerI’m not big on gossip, the tawdry dalliances of people with too much money and time on their hands leaves me tired, and writer/director Paul Schrader‘s latest flick is full of such nonsense.  There are many who will no doubt like this film more than me, but although the film included some interesting characters it mars them in the middle of one of the most boring murder mysteries in recent memory.  Is it worth seeing?  Yes.  Is it worth gossiping about?  Hardly.

Paul Schrader has penned some great scripts (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ), he also wrote Light of Day (and directed Cat People).  The Walker, which Schrader wrote and directed, falls somewhere in between.

Carter “Carr” Page III (Woody Harrelson) is an escort to the wealthy and influential woman of Washington D.C.  He’s what is known as a “walker,” he walks ladies from place to place providing company, juicy gossip, and companionship.  Although he delights in telling his clients about the hot topics in our nation’s capitol, he speaks very little of his own life or of his long time relationship to a struggling artist (Moritz Bleibtreu).  To some he’s an acquaintance, to others an embarrassment of his name and the legacy of his father.  Harrelson does well in balancing the different facets of the character who will turn the other cheek and offer a smile even in the most dangerous circumstances.

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