ikimono
Joined Sep 2001
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Reviews5
ikimono's rating
Collegetown, USA, is an ongoing series that probes college campuses for the real dirt on what students should expect upon arrival. Make no mistake, the majority of it is comedy, and certain bits damn near had me on the floor.
But there is real info here, too. Important factoids such as tuition, dorm costs, academic focuses, and honest looks at the student body, are all a part of the show. There's very little inhibition to what the host, Christopher Underwood, will ask (or even do) to engage the students. A lot of it does involve drinking. But a lot of college involves a lot of drinking for huge swaths of students. So this isn't a bad thing; it's honest.
As the host, Christopher looks the part of a kid in the college scene.. This is hugely important, I don't know how well it would work any other way. He's charming and funny, without being mean or intimidating.
The writing is solid, though some bits are noticeably funnier than others. The production values are low, but they don't need to be any higher for the goal of the show: comedic info-tainment about college life.
I've managed to see a few episodes now, and I hope to see more. Count me as a fan.
But there is real info here, too. Important factoids such as tuition, dorm costs, academic focuses, and honest looks at the student body, are all a part of the show. There's very little inhibition to what the host, Christopher Underwood, will ask (or even do) to engage the students. A lot of it does involve drinking. But a lot of college involves a lot of drinking for huge swaths of students. So this isn't a bad thing; it's honest.
As the host, Christopher looks the part of a kid in the college scene.. This is hugely important, I don't know how well it would work any other way. He's charming and funny, without being mean or intimidating.
The writing is solid, though some bits are noticeably funnier than others. The production values are low, but they don't need to be any higher for the goal of the show: comedic info-tainment about college life.
I've managed to see a few episodes now, and I hope to see more. Count me as a fan.
Taken on it's own merits, meaning not to be harshly compared with the book it's based on, this series has to be one of the ten best things in cinema history.
There are story elements in the book that are missing in the series, as everyone knows, and Return of the King is no exception -- particularly, in my mind, the final scenes.. For the amount of time that Peter Jackson felt he had to tell this ending of the film trilogy, however, I feel it's everything it needs to be.
The important thing is that the heart of the story is intact, complete, I think, with all the meaning and emotion that could be transferred to celluloid.
I've read a complaint or two about the ending being too long. To these remarks I can only express bafflement. It's a discouraging sign of the 'mtv generation', so to speak, that once massive conflict has been resolved that the credits must then roll. This is something like a 10.5 / 11 hour event all told. 20 extra minutes of denouement is not only acceptable, it's demanded. Do not blame the film for your attention problems, for the fault is with your own stunted sense of interest.
In my mind, I would have liked even greater time spent in finishing the story...More literal-minded fans of the book itself will probably agree..not to spoil the story for those unfamiliar.
The battle sequences are, in a word, incredible. The performances are uniformly strong. The story itself is full of heart and the truth of what it means to be a man (and woman), the lengths we go to for fellowship, and the strength we can summon in our darkest hour.
My particular favorite moment in the film, as of the moment of writing this rather glowing review, is Eowyn's dealings with the Witch-King. But I was predestined to enjoy it, as I found it a great moment in the book as well.
Jackson and his team spared no expense in their labors. The cinema-appreciating public should do the same to support their finished product.
There are story elements in the book that are missing in the series, as everyone knows, and Return of the King is no exception -- particularly, in my mind, the final scenes.. For the amount of time that Peter Jackson felt he had to tell this ending of the film trilogy, however, I feel it's everything it needs to be.
The important thing is that the heart of the story is intact, complete, I think, with all the meaning and emotion that could be transferred to celluloid.
I've read a complaint or two about the ending being too long. To these remarks I can only express bafflement. It's a discouraging sign of the 'mtv generation', so to speak, that once massive conflict has been resolved that the credits must then roll. This is something like a 10.5 / 11 hour event all told. 20 extra minutes of denouement is not only acceptable, it's demanded. Do not blame the film for your attention problems, for the fault is with your own stunted sense of interest.
In my mind, I would have liked even greater time spent in finishing the story...More literal-minded fans of the book itself will probably agree..not to spoil the story for those unfamiliar.
The battle sequences are, in a word, incredible. The performances are uniformly strong. The story itself is full of heart and the truth of what it means to be a man (and woman), the lengths we go to for fellowship, and the strength we can summon in our darkest hour.
My particular favorite moment in the film, as of the moment of writing this rather glowing review, is Eowyn's dealings with the Witch-King. But I was predestined to enjoy it, as I found it a great moment in the book as well.
Jackson and his team spared no expense in their labors. The cinema-appreciating public should do the same to support their finished product.
