Author: Jason Zingale (Page 143 of 154)

Charlie & the Heroin Factory

January 25, 2006 / Jason Zingale

It feels like Charlie’s struggle with drug addiction has been put on hold for almost a year now (not counting the brief revisit two weeks back), so it was a relief to see that the writers hadn’t forgotten about our favorite little hobbit. Still, I’m not completely sure that I was expecting what happened on tonight’s episode, namely Charlie’s chronic daydreaming about Claire’s baby (Aaron) going missing. And after a religious-themed premonition and a chat with Mr. Eko, Charlie is convinced that Aaron needs to be baptized in order to be considered saved. That doesn’t, however, make it okay to steal another person’s baby and force it into the ocean surrounding a mysterious island.

Are Charlie’s visions for real or just an aftereffect of going cold turkey? Whatever the reason, at least we know why Charlie is so damned protective of Aaron – it seems that his older brother didn’t know the first step in early parenting, though the extensive drug use certainly didn’t help. And finally, what was going on with that diaper commercial? Is that what burned out rock stars are to expect at the end of their career, and if so, why don’t we see more rockers dressing up like babies these days? Man, what I wouldn’t give to see the Stones selling Pampers during daytime television.

Lost, TV

Vic Mackey, meet Jon Kavanaugh. Let the games begin.

January 25, 2006 / Jason Zingale

If season five of “The Shield” were any more like its debut season, Michael Chiklis will be polishing his new Golden Globe about this time next year. I mentioned in a past blog that I thought the show had gotten back to the basics, and if last nights episode was any indication, I was right on the money. The Strike Team is back to kicking ass and taking names, albeit at a low enough level so that Lem’s wiretap doesn’t pick it up. All four guys know about Kavanaugh now and it looks like their going to walk the straight and narrow until they can figure out how to get rid of the monkey on their backs. It’s true that they have to watch what they say when they’re out in the field, but if they’re just lounging around in the Barn, typing in Microsoft Word seems to do the trick.

And for the first time this season, the filler cases used to pad the major plotlines were actually interesting. While the Strike Team track down an underage Mexican slave trade with the help of newbie cop Tina’s undercover work, Dutch and Claudette are forced to reopen a case involving the wrongful imprisonment of a suspect in the school shootings. So, Dutch, was wrong… big deal. If he would have had Claudette’s full attention on day one, maybe they wouldn’t have made that mistake. More interesting, though, is the fact that Super Detective Dutch couldn’t figure out that the “face reader” specialist was more into him than the case at hand. Is Dutch really losing his edge, or is his Gaydar just a little fuzzy?

Meanwhile, the countdown to Vic and Kavanugh’s first face-to-face begins when Corrine runs to Vic about a man who’s approached her numerous times at the school. Vic knows right away that it’s Kavanaugh, confirming Corrine’s statement with a newspaper photo Ronnie dug up in the archives while searching for dirt on the IAD agent. Seems that Kavanaugh is worse than they thought, going so far as turning in his own partner while on the job years before. That really shouldn’t be surprising considering the level of determination (desperation?) that his character has shown thus far this season, but it’ll certainly play a part down the road.

All queries about Kavanaugh aside, why in God’s name would Shane mention his work problems to Mara again? Doesn’t he realize that this is the same psycho bitch who botched up the money train two years ago? I doubt Shane would ever give Lem up to save his ass, especially since Lem is in this trouble precisely because of Shane, but I wouldn’t give Mara those same odds. She’ll do anything to keep her husband out of prison, and screwing over the other three guys is probably on the top of her list.

The Shield, TV

DVD shuffle: 01/24/05

January 23, 2006 / Jason Zingale

Out on DVD this week:

1) Flightplan – RENT: For how well this film did at the box office, I have to say that I was expecting a whole lot more. Still, it’s theatrical success is hardly worth contesting, so I’ll leave it up to you to decide.

2) The Fog – PASS: Never got a chance to see this remake of the classic 70’s horror film, and quite frankly, I never will. The casting of YA Superman doesn’t help the case either, but fans of Maggie Grace jonesing for some wet T-shirt action may very well be compelled to pick this one up.

3) The Aristocrats – RENT: A documentary about the dirtiest joke ever told, “The Aristocrats” is more of a secret handshake between comics than a film for the Average Joe. Still, despite it’s utter lack of comedy, it would be difficult to suggest never seeing this movie. It’s certainly worth seeing once, but that’s it.

Also out this week is a reissue of the sci-fi cult film “Repo Man,” as well as the gen-Y drama “Thumbsucker.”

Movie DVDs, Movies, Reviews

Kate Beckinsale looking forward to suck the blood out of transexual, Muslims

January 20, 2006 / Jason Zingale

The black void that is the January film season only gets worse this week with the release of the vampire/werewolf flick “Underworld: Evolution,” the sequel to the stlyish genre film from a few years ago. Too bad director Len Wiseman didn’t just take the money and run, because “Evolution” is a disgrace to the original. Also in theaters this week is the Golden Globe-winning drama “Transamerica” and the Albert Brooks comedy “Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World.” It doesn’t look like the Brothers Weinstein are suffering any from their parting with Disney. The awards just keep rolling in for those guys, don’t they?

Action Movies, Movie Dramas, Movies, Reviews

Let’s start over, shall we?

January 18, 2006 / Jason Zingale

FINALLY! After being pretty harsh last week on the future of the series, JJ Abrams and Co. delivered one of the best episodes of the season, not only answering questions about Jack’s past, but also reintroducing the Others as a sort of Borg-like Father of the Island. The episode starts off, however, with Michael knocking out Locke and throwing him into a compartment along with Jack. He then goes commando and takes off to rescue Walt. As soon as Sawyer and Kate discover the pair locked away down in the hatch, the three guys set off to track him down.

Instead, they’re confronted by Mr. Friendly (IMDb’s name, not ours), the apparent leader of the Others. Coincidentally, Mr. Friendly is played by M.C. Gainey, none other than the notorious naked fat guy from “Sideways.” If that image doesn’t make his character on “Lost” ooze creepiness, I don’t know what does. Jack actually stands up to the guy, despite being outnumbered by a handful of torches (supposedly with people standing by) surrounding them, but Kate has to screw it all up by getting captured while trying to follow the boys. Oh well, you don’t win them all, and if this didn’t happen, Jack wouldn’t have to run to Ana Lucia for help. That’s right people, he doesn’t want her to just join the rescue squad, he wants her to train one; or an army, to be more precise.

Meanwhile, Hurley is getting a little horny after 50 days, and he thinks he’s got a shot with Libby, one of the tail-end survivors. I say, go for it dude. It’s not like a little island romance wouldn’t lighten things up a bit, especially considering it’s Hurley, and he’s bound to go about wooing her in very comical fashion. Charlie could hardly care about what Hurley has to say, though, because he’s too busy planning his next stalking of Claire. I kind of feel bad for the runt, and it looks like next week’s episode may just redeem him in the eyes of the Australian mama. Here’s hoping that “Lost” gets back on track in time for a strong finish. You are a Golden Globe winning series. Start acting like one.