Red vs. Blue: Reconstruction

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The Red vs. Blue series is famous for its running gags, quick wit, stinging satire, and nonsensical story lines. Lasting six seasons and 100 episodes (plus special videos not related to the main story arc), The Blood Gulch Chronicles was the defining moment for machinima.

Reconstruction changes the essential formula that, in turn, make the series even better than before:
- instead of telling the story from the point of view of the RvB soldiers, the outsider Freelancer Agent Washington narrates the story
- the style takes risk by blending its signature comedy routines with dark and compelling drama.
- science fiction elements are no longer relegated to the category "plot devices." These surprisingly smart elements now propel the plot forward and enhance the emotional impact of the plot.
- the cinematography and editing are handled with skill and nuance, giving this product a more polished and traditional presentation as opposed to the uniquely gritty technique that was part of the series' style before.
- the soundtrack relies on more orchestral compositions, as opposed to the desert rock/ country solo guitar.
- as opposed to leaving story lines unresolved, this story actually cleans up the story and resolves many of the questions lingering from the Blood Gulch Chronicles. Moreover, it is done in a brilliant way that will both shock and amaze fans and new viewers alike.

These changes represented a critical evolution in the series, giving this installation an epic scope and a veneer of professional production values. This allows for new elements - the brilliant writing and more traditional plot progression - while retaining what made the Red vs. Blue series great - intelligent humor and satire.

This release is a must see for any existing Red vs. Blue fans. While this story will only have limited appeal to new viewers (due to the quantity of inside jokes and important plot points in the original series), Reconstruction nevertheless provides an accessible entry point for new viewers. I highly recommend this DVD for any fan of the series or for anyone looking for a quality science fiction story with a great sense of humor.

5 stars

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The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance

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In architecture school you learn about the Medici as a family who built some significant buildings with historic, cultural and architectural value. Never did I realize when I started listening to this series that there was so much more to their story!

What this series, so far in my watching, has done is capture the flavor of a time period or a group of people, brought them out of their historic, textbook bubble and really shown its viewers their character. What you get from this series on the Medici family is a real sense of their culture, their personalities, their determination so that you see them not as "those dudes who built that building in Florence" but as the patrons of an artistic, scientific and religous revolution (even if the religious revolution wasn't intentional).

These shows bring an anecdotal approach to educating its viewers - it doesn't just spout off facts about the Medici family, one after another, "This Medici was the patron of Michaelangelo who did this work and this work and this work and, by the way, they're all famous sculptures" which is the quickest way to forget everything you're told. Instead they put a more personal slant on things by telling you facts in terms of stories, making everything more personal and you really begin to understand how intertwined history really is. One of my favorite parts was talking about the Medici's patronage of Brunelleschi and his personality quarks and the kind of revolutionary engineer he was to conceive of the dome and its construction methods (but then you're talking to an architect...)

I will not attest to accuracy of facts and am more than willing to give artistic license to the creators of this documentary because it was so enjoyable. Frankly, I don't really care if the Florence Cathedral was completed in April or in October, I remember more about it from this documentary than I remember from my architectural history course in college.

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Fraggle Rock Season 1

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I have to be honest, I run one of the net's biggest Fraggle Fan Sites... so that said: I love Fraggle Rock, and you know you do too! :) Jim Henson was a genius and I'm so glad to see his wonderful creation being re-born for a new generation. The fact that I can watch for FREE now is pretty great as well.

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American Loggers Season 1

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Watching this makes those of us who work inside an air conditioned office feel a little guilty about complaining about lumber prices or logging trucks. These guys work really hard, and provide a good product.

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The Business of Being Born

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The film does a good job of explaining the "intervention cycle" that is so common in medicalized births--the mother is hooked up to intravenous tubes and all sorts of technology, and thus there is inevitable pressure to use (or misuse that technology). Anesthetics, which are supposed to ease the pain, lead to slowdown in the birth process, which leads to more intervention (pitocin etc.) and oftentimes to "crisis" into which the physician steps to save the day. The film gives a fair amount of attention to the power of the physician over against the mother in medicalized birth. The portrayal of the respectful and extremely helpful manner in which home birth midwives work comes across very well.

We give the film a four-star rating instead of five for several reasons. We think it does not do quite well enough at explaining the reasons why home birthers do certain things--for example, why they often choose water birth. Why husbands/partners might not wear a shirt when assisting the mother. Why the home setting is generally superior to the hospital setting in terms of exposure to dangerous microbes. There are good reasons for all these things, but they're not really explained in the film.

We think the film dwells excessively on the experiences of the director (Cara) and upon Ricki Lake. It's fine to have these folks profiled in the film we just think they take too much screen time that could have been better used educate people further about non-medicalized birth. This is one reason that the film starts to languish a bit in the second half. Some of the language used on the film (casual swearing) will be unnecessarily offensive to many home birthers and potential home birthers. The film did not mention the religious reasons some people choose home birth (we'd have loved to see interviews with Amish home birthers, for example). We did think the contributions of Michael Odent, Ina Gaskin, and the other midwives (and the back-up doctor) were portrayed very well.

We have had six home births (four with well-trained midwives). Our midwives definitely went the extra mile for us, and were genuinely interested not only in "getting the baby out" but in all aspects of prenatal, delivery, and early infant care. They were extremely generous in their time and expertise. In terms of theoretical and practical knowledge, our trained midwives were the equal if not superior to the typical birth-attending physician. This perspective comes across pretty well on the film.

All in all, this is a good film. It could be quite a bit better in terms of explaining non-medicalized birth to people who are unfamiliar with it. But it's a good start and we recommend it to anyone interested in the topic.

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Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

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Spoiler Alert: If you haven't seen the original show--the "Blood and Sand: Season One" conclusion is referenced in first paragraph.

When the first season of the Starz original production of "Spartacus: Blood & Sand" came to its frenzied and gore soaked conclusion, I screamed in horror as my favorite evil doers lay in pools of blood. Okay, first I was laughing delightedly at the over-the-top genius and spectacle of that last episode--but then I realized that the second season might go on without the cunning antics of Lucy Lawless and John Hannah. And that, my friends, is a scary thought--because their diabolical machinations were a principle selling point of the show! For the record, I don't know their specific fate--but visually it didn't look very promising! However, when lead Andy Whitfield was diagnosed with cancer, it left the second season upended to see what would happen. Whitfield did, indeed, have to drop out (sadly, he passed away on 9/11/11 at age 39)-but the series went forward with another actor cast. This delay, however, caused the creation of the six part "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena" prequel. And while not as instantly compelling as its insane predecessor, the show does allow viewers to spend more time with Batiatus (Hannah) and Lucretia (Lawless)!

Set in the period prior to "Blood and Sand," "Gods of the Arena" charts the trials and tribulations as Hannah tries to maneuver his gladiator house into a position of prominence. There is a new set of political opponents, plenty of familiar faces among the gladiator ranks (including the arrival of bad boy Crixus), and a fresh faced hero of the Batiatus house. Dustin Clare as Gannicus is filled with charm and bravado--but being a gladiator star may be a short lived occupation! Those that come to the show for its action elements will be delighted by the continuous blood-letting and the vibrantly ridiculous CGI effects. Not aiming for realistic violence, one of the pleasures of these programs is the gleefully over-the-top spectacle presented within each episode. One of my favorite confrontations is a blind-folded Gannicus doing battle with a top rival in another house. The fight scenes are choreographed with gruesome precision and are always loads of fun.

Some of the soap opera drama, however, is not quite as effective as the original show. One particularly awkward moment of unnecessary histrionics comes when a married slave woman is required to have sex with Gannicus, who happens to be a friend of her husband. How much sex, debauchery, murder and perversion have we seen in the Batiatus home? I mean seriously! This little act of infidelity seems pretty minor and yet Lawless seems disturbed to have to require it and the slave weeps at the indiscretion (before enjoying it, of course). She's a slave--and slaves are tortured and abused--how much emotion am I supposed to work up because she has to have sex? It's even tender and loving!

Through it all, though, Lawless is a delight and Hannah oozes menace. Their campy villainy remains a highlight! But I've saved the best for last, "Gods of the Arena" has added an absolutely delicious new character in Jaime Murray's Gaia. Murray, who I've appreciated in everything from "Hustle" to "Warehouse 13" to "Dexter," plays a cohort of Lawless. She inhabits the role with sly malevolence and indisputable sexiness. She may be what I remember most about this incarnation of the series! If you enjoyed the original show, this should be fitful entertainment as you await the arrival of Season Two. It may not possess the madcap and operatic genius of the Whitfield story arc--but there are still plenty of depraved pleasures to be had! KGHarris, 2/11.

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Borstal Boy

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This lovely little Irish film shines through the talent and beauty of its great ensemble of actors, bittersweet story, and intelligent script. Extraordinarily gifted Shawn Hatosy is perfect as youthful Irish author Brendan Behan (whose autobiographical book inspired this affecting movie). He was arrested for entering England as an IRA operative and sentenced to Borstal, a juvenile reformatory which is run by a most sympathetic Michael York. In fact, a hallmark of this film is its humanity (contrast this with the nastiness of ANY prison film made in the US).

Brendan meets Charlie, a young, openly gay sailor. The two take a shine to one another, but it is a while before Brendan can come to terms with loving another boy. When he finally does it is one of the tenderest moments on screen, and all too short-lived. He says later that he came to England because of hate, but he learned to love.

There are many wonderful moments with all the diverse boys (pink-cheeked Robin Laing is outstanding as a young Scot), and heartbreaking ones as well. The speech is sometimes problematic, as it is highly colloquial and heavily accented, but it is not really an obstacle. The film is logical and clear. I wanted to watch this beautiful story several times anyway, and was rewarded with a deeper understanding of much more than dialogue each time.

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