Very Sisko, Very Average, "The Legends Of Captain Benjamin Sisko" Is Only Good For Fans.

The Good: Good photography/card quality, Limited edition nature
The Bad: A number of promotional images, Bias toward early years
The Basics: A good set, the Legends Of Benjamin Sisko card set is strangely mediocre for a tribute to such a wonderful character.


For those who do not know and love Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, you're missing out on something extraordinary. Arguably the best of the Star Trek franchise, it is the most gritty, violent and adult of the Star Trek television series' and as a result, it has a resonance with fans that keep them considering and revisiting the series even years afterward. Because it was more geared toward adults - especially in the way actions had consequences for major characters - it was also vastly undermerchandised. Fortunately, with Rittenhouse Archives “Legends Of Star Trek“ series of trading cards, even Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is getting its due and the "Legends Of Benjamin Sisko" is the entry from the neglected series into the card collection.

The first 2009 release in "The Legends Of Star Trek" focused on the captains of the Star Trek franchise and "The Legends Of Sisko" set was released alongside sets for Janeway and Archer. Just as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was often neglected and ill-considered, Benjamin Sisko is actually the only lead character of a Star Trek series to not be a captain when the show began. Fortunately, this card series focused more on Sisko after he became a captain, but also wisely included a few shots from early in the series when he was only a Commander. Unfortunately, this set is very average in the way it presents its subject and becomes essential pretty much only for those who were already predisposed toward it.


Basics/Set Composition

"The Legends Of Star Trek" set is a series of cards produced by Rittenhouse Archives and released on average twice a year over the last five years. The "Legends Of Sisko" set is the sixteenth in the ever-expanding series that is released in nine card, limited edition increments. There are no bonus cards in this set, they come as complete sets of nine cards sealed in a cellophane package. There are three things that make these sets truly special: cardstock, an individual limited edition number, and the images on the cards. The cardstock is a 20pt. (thicker than usual) cardstock with the standard UV resistant coating that all quality trading cards come with these days. To illustrate the truly limited nature of the “Legends Of Star Trek“ cards, every set is strictly limited to 1701 sets and the L9 card (visible at the back of the cellophane pack) is foil stamped with an individual number for the specific "Legends Of" set. So, for example, my personal set is number 0440/1701! This is where it helps to have a dealer that you are loyal to; dealers were able to order all of the same limited edition collector's numbers each time, so every time I get an order in, they are the same limited edition numbers and I - and my customers - are assembling sets with matching numbers, which will presumably hold the value of the overall series better in the long run.

Finally, the “Legends Of Star Trek“ series is characterized by wonderful, uncommon images that are (usually) not the typical shots that have been on 8x10s, t-shirts and collector's plates before. Instead, these cards capitalize on big rare images, vivid color contrast and cards that are uncluttered by pesky text! These cards are for the fans who know the accomplishments of their heroes! No need to write about them, the images speak for themselves!


Common Cards

The "Legends Of Sisko" set is a nine-card “Legends Of Star Trek“ set that features eighteen images of Benjamin Sisko from his second season publicity shot to one of the final publicity photos of Benjamin Sisko from the seventh season of the series. But for a character who was so dynamic and had several different uniforms and hairstyles, there are remarkably few truly original images in this set.

Unlike many of the prior releases of “Legends Of Star Trek“ the "Legends Of Sisko" set is dramatically unimaginative. The early releases tried to use more screen captures and images that were uncommon, the "Legends Of Sisko" uses more publicity images and images that have been done on other trading cards many times before. Five of the images on the fronts of the cards are clearly recognizable to fans of the series as being simple publicity shots. The backs of these cards use similarly unimaginative shots as well. The result is a collection of Sisko shots, primarily of Sisko looking at the camera as opposed to candid images.

Undermining the concept of the “Legends Of Star Trek“ series with bland publicity shots of Sisko for the "Legends Of Sisko" set is the insult before the injury. All of the fronts of the cards have images of Sisko looking forward at virtually the same angle, all but two in his uniform. Only near the end of the set and on the backs are there images of Sisko as Benny - the 1950s author from "Far Beyond The Stars" - and images of Sisko in the classic Star Trek outfit from "Trials And Tribble-ations" (reviewed here!).

Noticeably absent from this set are images of Sisko in his space sailor's outfit from "Explorers" or his alternate universe persona from "Crossover." Similarly absent are any images from his wedding to Kassidy Yates or even a shot of him with his son! The lone shot of Sisko in a baseball uniform is from the pilot, as opposed to the seventh season "Take Me Out To The Holosuite." Come to think of it, the one in the baseball uniform in this set is Sisko in a StarFleet uniform . . . with a baseball cap on! Sisko, arguably the most militaristic captain of the bunch is pictured without firearms (the back of L3 features a picture from "The Way Of The Warrior" with the phaser cropped out!) and because earlier “Legends Of Star Trek“ sets from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine have featured characters in their "Our Man Bashir" personas, the lack of a Doctor Noah card is disappointing. Equally disappointing is the lack of a shot of Sisko as a Klingon from "Apocalypse Rising." Also absent is a final Sisko shot, a seventh season shot from Sisko's final moments and given how his character actually has a sense of closure to it (at least in the television series), this is truly disappointing.

That said, shots like Sisko in all of his various uniforms chronicle the Captain well. The inclusion of a "Trials And Tribble-ations" Sisko image is also wonderful. As well, the backs of the cards do have more of the candid sense to them. The quality is a little granier on some (like #1), but at least Sisko's face is emotive on many of those images.

Overall

But there's just enough to satisfy fans of Avery Brooks in his seminal role of Benjamin Sisko. There are wonderful shots of Sisko looking authoritative and commanding. Fans of the series will appreciate that and given the rarity of these cards, any collectors that give up on the “Legends Of Star Trek“ set with the "Legends Of Sisko" release will likely find that there were Avery Brooks fans all too ready to snatch up the remaining sets.

The nine-card sets tend to sell for $17 - $20 but the cardstock quality - which truly is a professional grade - and the limited edition nature of the set makes it worth it. One suspects in the future, the “Legends Of Star Trek“ sets will be sold in the secondary market almost exclusively as entire series collections, so fans who simply have a favorite character will want to snatch up the releases when they first come out, even if the set is uncharacteristically composed of publicity stills!

For fans of Avery Brooks, this is the "Legends" set for you! This is a great set for getting signed at Star Trek conventions!

This set culls images from:
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,
most recognizably "The Way Of The Warrior"

For other Legends Of Star Trek cards from, please be sure to read my reviews of:
Legends Of Captain Kirk
Legends Of Spock
Legends Of Dr. Leonard McCoy
Legends Of Sulu, Scotty And Uhura
Legends Of Chekov, Chapel and Rand
Legends Of Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Legends Of Data
Legends Of Riker
Legends Of Counselor Deanna Troi
Legends Of Lieutenant Worf
Legends Of Doctor Beverly Crusher
Legends Of Geordi, Yar and Wesley Crusher

5/10

For other card reviews, please visit my index page on the subject by clicking here!

© 2012, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

The Dominion War Is Chronicled In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season Six!

The Good: Plot, Character, Acting, Special effects, Themes
The Bad: None, this is a perfect season!
The Basics: Undeniably a dramatic force to be reckoned with, the sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine achieves perfection and establishes the series as a true original and classic.


If you are not into Star Trek: Deep Space Nine by now, don't bother starting with this boxed set. If you do, you'll only get about ten percent of what is actually going on in the show. Indeed, though the show is heavily serialized, it does very few recaps, working on the assumption that you saw the episode that preceded the one you're watching now. The sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a reward for all of those people who stuck with the series through its rockier early seasons. And what a reward it is!

Opening months after the fifth season finale, the sixth season finds the Federation and Klingons losing the war against the Dominion. Kira, Odo, Jake and Quark live under Dominion-occupied Deep Space Nine while Sisko works to try to take back the station. And after a few episodes, he actually succeeds, but it's a big, bloody season and the retaking of Deep Space Nine is only the beginning. The season continues with the spiraling effect of the war consuming everything until the season finale when it finally consumes one of the main crew permanently.

This is a war story.

This is a big, ballsy, bloody war story. If you liked Return Of The King (reviewed here!), imagine watching an incredibly long movie where you liked the characters even more than the denizens of Middle Earth and that the battles they fought did not go so well. There is no army of the undead in Deep Space Nine to step in and aid Sisko in smiting the Dominion. There are Prophets and they come into play, but they exact a penance, something that does not happen in the Lord of the Rings. In short, the sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is an epic war that pits good against evil in such a way that makes it almost impossible for good to win. As the season progresses, it becomes about the compromises the forces of good make in their ideals to attempt to win. It's quite telling watching Bashir work with a man who protects the Civil Rights of the Federation by using means that thoroughly undermine them ("Inquisition"), Sisko blackmail, lie and cheat to try to get allies ("In The Pale Moonlight") and Kira ally herself with a collaborator ("Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night").

The sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine rides on the characters, as always. Here is how the sixth season finds them evolving:

Garak - Works closely with the Federation, even aiding Sisko in getting the Romulans to join the war ("In The Pale Moonlight"),

Rom - Prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice to insure that the Dominion does not bring down the wormhole ("Behind Enemy Lines") and then to rescue his mother ("The Magnificent Ferengi"),

Nog - Is promoted to Ensign and continues to exemplify what it is to be a StarFleet officer,

Gul Dukat - Makes policy for the Dominion during the Occupation and with the loss of Deep Space Nine, he loses everything ("Sacrifice Of Angels"),

Quark - Schemes to protect the Ferengi Alliance from falling apart ("Profit And Lace") after taking the biggest risks of his life in rescuing his mother ("The Magnificent Ferengi"),

O'Brien - Is reunited with his family and commits utterly to keeping them safe from now on ("Time's Orphan"),

Jake Sisko - Becomes a full reporter for the Federation, working to expose the truths of the Dominion occupation,

Dax - Marries Worf ("You Are Cordially Invited. . .") and learns that that complicates her life immeasurably ("Change Of Heart"),

Odo - Goes over to the dark side ("Behind Enemy Lines"), until his love for Kira is finally realized ("His Way"),

Bashir - Suffers greatly under the burdens of war and seeks out kindred genetically enhanced people ("Statistical Probabilities") and finally becomes the spy he always fantasized about being ("Inquisition"),

Worf - Marries Dax and works to try to end the war against the Dominion using force, a choice that will cost him ("Tears Of The Prophets"),

Kira - Becomes a terrorist once again to free her people from Dominion rule ("Favor The Bold") and in the shadows of that, learns a family secret that leaves her shaken ("Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night") until Odo makes his move ("His Way"),

and Sisko - Finally reveals the full potential of being a religious figure with a relationship to the Prophets ("Sacrifice Of Angels"), a move that changes the face of the war. As he sacrifices everything to win the war ("In The Pale Moonlight"), a heavy price is exacted for his powers that leaves him broken ("Tears Of The Prophets").

If you are a fan of science fiction, it does not get better than this. If you're a fan of great drama, this will be compelling as well. If you remember how horrible you felt for the heroes in The Empire Strikes Back, when it seemed they had lost everything, then you are ready to get a new standard to play by. The sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine pushes the characters to the brink of destruction, giving them very few victories and souring the few they do achieve.

Why would you want to watch this, then? It sounds wholly depressing. Well, it's bound to make you feel better about yourself. After all, seeing how bad the situation is for the crew of Deep Space Nine makes the current political climate of the U.S. seem almost tolerable. But in the longer term, the sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine reveals to the viewer how much we can root for an underdog, how much we can push for success against all odds. In "Statistical Probabilities" and "A Time To Stand" we actually hear the odds of the Federation winning the war and they are pathetically slim. The nice thing is, like all great drama, the series does not abandon that idea. Things don't just suddenly go well for the crew. This is an ugly war and it is easy to get immersed in it in this boxed set and yearn to see how it turns out.

The war is broken down into stories, though it is a rather encompassing event throughout the entire season. The range of episodes runs from absolute horrifying war story ("Rocks And Shoals") to romantic comedy ("His Way") to farce ("Profit And Lace") to political intrigue ("In The Pale Moonlight"). There are family sagas ("Time's Orphan") and interstellar battles ("Sacrifice Of Angels") and a brilliant episode that reminds us of the importance of communicating our love to our loved ones ("The Sound Of Her Voice"). In short, while there is a war that dominates the storyline, there is something for everyone in this season and it's refreshing to see such a mature, adult series.

Part of what accomplishes that mood is the caliber of actors. The actors here are adults acting with adult determination, securities and ethics. There aren't easy ways out in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and that is assured through the stern facade of Avery Brooks, the grim determination Colm Meany puts into O'Brien, the sadness Rene Auberjonois infuses into Odo. Alexander Siddig does an amazing job, from the very first episode of the season ("A Time To Stand") in establishing how the war has affected his character. Siddig plays Bashir as a man beaten down of months of watching bloodshed, exactly what one would expect of a doctor during wartime.

The sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a rare perfect season of television and while it may be essential to see the prior five seasons, the investment (in time, emotion and money) more than pays off in the sixth season. This boxed set with excite and stimulate you and leave you wanting to rush out for the seventh - and final - season of this great epic.

For a better idea of just what this boxed set contains, please be sure to visit my reviews of the episodes from this season. They are:
A Time To Stand
Rocks And Shoals
Sons And Daughters
Behind The Lines
Favor The Bold
Sacrifice Of Angels
You Are Cordially Invited . . .
Resurrection
Statistical Probabilities
The Magnificent Ferengi
Waltz
Who Mourns For Morn?
Far Beyond The Stars
One Little Ship
Honor Among Thieves
Change Of Heart
Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night
Inquisition
In The Pale Moonlight
His Way
The Reckoning
Valiant
Profit And Lace
Time’s Orphan
The Sound Of Her Voice
Tears Of The Prophets

10/10

For other Star Trek reviews, please be sure to visit my index page on the subject for an organized listing of all those reviews!

© 2012, 2004 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| |

Fading, Poorly Balanced And Somewhat Ridiculous, No One Is Buying The Power Of The Force Han Solo In Carbonite Figure For The Han!

The Good: Great accessory!
The Bad: Limited poseability, Balance issues, Yellowing plastic on the figure, Awkward figure sculpt
The Basics: The only reason to put any money or effort into the Han Solo In Carbonite figure is for the Carbonite block!


As I finally finish packing away another whole box of Star Wars figures (I was actually quite excited about that!), I have made my way to the last Power Of The Force figure from the one box! That figure used to be one that impressed me and that I enjoyed quite a bit, but not seems remarkable simple and silly. It is the Han Solo In Carbonite action figure and the only reason to bother with it is the actual Carbonite block accessory.

For those unfamiliar with Han Solo when he was encased in Carbonite, it was basically the climax of The Empire Strikes Back (reviewed here!),so why are you even looking at Star Wars figures if you haven’t seen The Empire Strikes Back all the way through?! Anyway, at the start of Return Of The Jedi (reviewed here!), Han Solo is trapped in hibernation in a frozen block and he needs to be rescued. The Carbonite block is a pretty iconic prop from the Trilogy and this figure represents Han Solo after he was released.

The 4" Han Solo In Carbonite figure comes from the period in Kenner’s toy development when figures were made to look like an unrealistic action hero ideal, as opposed to how Han Solo actually looked. Conversely, the Carbonite block is one of the best toy renditions ever made!

Basics

Han Solo In Carbonite, in his Power Of The Force sculpting, features Han Solo in his white shirt and brown pants, looking much like he did in his final moments on Bespin and then in Jabba’s palace. This Han Solo stands 3 13/16” tall to the top of his feathered-hair on his head. The facial sculpt is not the worst rendition of Han Solo ever and it actually looks mostly like a young Harrison Ford. The hair is somewhat raised and looks parted, as opposed to monolithic, like a helmet. However, there the sculpt completely falls apart for accuracy. This version of Han Solo has broad shoulders and chest definition that Harrison Ford did not have when the movie was shot and certainly does not have now! That’s not an insult; some people look like a bodybuilder and some look less freakish. Harrison Ford as Han Solo looked less freakish, but this figure does not capture that. Instead, this makes Han Solo look like a weightlifter.

As for the coloring, herein lays many of the problems with the figure. The arms and chest of the Han Sol figure do not match. As this figure has aged, the white on the sleeves and the white plastic that makes up his shirt have discolored in different ways and that makes this Han Solo look somewhat ridiculous now. There is no depth or shading to the figure, save on the pants which have the yellow racing stripe up the side, as is appropriate. This version of Han Solo features white eyes with tiny brown irises and white pupils.

Accessories

Han Solo In Carbonite comes with two accessories: the Carbonite Block and his blaster. The blaster is a 1 1/4” monotonal black plastic handgun that has two barrels at the end, making it look pretty wicked! It is, however, grossly disproportionate compared to the size of the figure and looks a little ridiculous in his hands, though it fits in either and it monotonal the way the rest of the figure is.

The real reason people wanted this figure was for the Carbonite block accessory! The 4 1/2“ tall by 2 1/2” wide by 5/8” deep hollow plastic block is not deep enough to hold Han Solo, but it looks like the right size and scale for the Carbonite block (except, perhaps, in depth) for even the current lines of Star Warsfigures! The gunmetal gray block looks just like the one in Return Of The Jedi in both coloring and sculpt. On the sides are the control panels and the controls themselves are represented by tiny stickers which look all right.

Playability

The four inch toy line was designed for play and Han Solo in Carbonite is pretty poor in that regard. First, he is cast in a pretty heroic stance with his legs spread very wide. As a result, even flatfooted, he does not stand up for very long. With any real arm posing for the figure, he tips. This is a very unbalanced figure. The only way to truly keep this Han Solo figure standing is to use the pegs on vehicles and playsets and plug them into the holes in the figure’s feet.

This Han Solo comes with only six points of articulation, all of which are simple swivel joints. He has joints at the groin socket, shoulders, waist and neck. The elbows do not extend, so all arm posing is straight-armed. The articulation matters very little, though, as this Han Solo figure usually ends up face-down anyway!

Collectibility

The Han Solo In Carbonite figure is part of the Power Of The Force four-inch series, a series of Star Wars action figures that was tragically overproduced. This figure appeared on at least three cardbacks and none of them have appreciated in value. Given the discovery that the actual figure discolors, I imagine this will remain a terrible investment figure.

Overview

Han Solo In Carbonite is a pretty cool concept for a figure, but Kenner did not do it as well as it ought to have in the Power Of The Force line. Fortunately, there are better ones on the market now!

For other Han Solo figures, please check out my reviews of:
2009 Han Solo As A Stormtrooper
SL22 Saga Legends Hoth Han Solo
Saga Collection Han Solo
Original Trilogy Collection Hoth Han Solo
Power Of The Jedi Bespin Capture Han Solo
Power Of The Force Deluxe Han Solo with Smuggler Flight Pack
Power Of The Force Hoth Han Solo

3/10

For other toy reviews, please visit my Toy Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

| | |

Few Artists Can Fake Being A One Man Band, But James Taylor Does It Fine.

The Good: Good voice, A few interesting re-interpretations of songs, Good mix, Adequate instrumentals.
The Bad: Nothing terribly extraordinary, DVD is "meh," "live" conceits.
The Basics: A decent mix of classic and contemporary James Talyor songs, One Man Band offers some good intepretations of the singer-songwriter's works.


After weeks of listening to little else save the works of James Taylor, it - admittedly - takes quite a bit to get me excited about listening to a new to me James Taylor album. Taylor is a decent singer-songwriter, but his voice gets monotonous after two albums back to back (this is album number ten for me from his library!) and his lack of genuine musical diversity becomes tiresome pretty quickly, especially with his albums of collected works, which tend to be biased toward the earliest parts of his career.

On One Man Band, though, James Taylor manages to present a live concert album that is decent enough to recommend. Unlike Live, on One Man Band, James Taylor presents a decent mix of classic James Taylor songs and his newer works off some of his latest albums. There were even two songs I had not yet heard (or that had not registered with me if I had). Then again, "Chili Dog" is hardly a memorable enough song to bother mentioning.

With nineteen tracks taking up a full 77:53, One Man Band is a decent blend of songs written and performed by James Taylor over his thirty-five year career. The songs on this album are mostly ones he wrote himself, save such obvious exceptions as "You've Got A Friend" and "Shower The People." He provides the primary acoustic guitar on each track as well as the vocals on all of the songs. As well, James Taylor takes a co-producing credit and that level of creative involvement makes this concert c.d. and DVD clearly his production and vision.

Perhaps the nicest thing about One Man Band that separates this album from his "greatest hits" and "best of" compilations is on this album he truly does mix the old with the new. Sure, there are classic hits like "Something In The Way She Moves" (which opens the album), "Carolina On My Mind," and "Fire And Rain," but they are interspersed with new tracks, like "Mean Old Man," "Line 'Em Up," and "Copperline." The album has no real theme other than "This is James Taylor!" But even in that, Taylor manages to surprise and do a few different things.

First, many of the songs are not simply literal interpretations of the prior studio tracks. "Slap Leather" is presented through a megaphone and sounds completely mechanical, lending a whole different interpretation to the song. "Copperline" is presented with an entirely different sense of syncopation and rhythm, which makes for a different sound and feel to the song. After hearing the same live version of "Steamroller" over and over again on other albums, it is refreshing to hear a different version on this album. Taylor actually sounds playful on this live take of "Mean Old Man" and it's nice to hear him having fun if for no other reason than he is presenting something other than bland and mellow.

Largely, the lyrics are the same as he always sings, but it is worth noting that James Taylor - for all of my problems with his smooth, monotonous vocals - has a genuine ability to write. He has some impressive story-songs, like "My Traveling Star." Lyrically, this is an intriguing musical poem with lines like "My daddy used to ride the rails / So they say, so they say / Soft as smoke and as tough as nails / Boxcar jones, old walking man / Coming back home was like going to jail / The sheets and the blankets and babies and all / No he never did come back home / Never that I recall" ("My Traveling Star"). It is rare for an artist to be able to populate songs with actual characters and give them little arcs, but Taylor does it (and well) with this song, like many of them on One Man Band.

Taylor also has a powerful ability to sing about universal emotions, as he does on "Secret O' Life." On that song, he muses on the nature of living and aging, something we all inevitably do. Taylor captures it well when he sings, "The secret of love is in opening up your heart / It's okay to feel afraid / But don't let that stand in your way / 'Cause anyone knows that love is the only road / And since we're only here for a while / Might as well show some style / Give us a smile" ("Secret O' Life"). Despite the rather inane rhyme scheme, Taylor makes a decent musical point and he presents it well.

But not all of the songs are winners. "School Song" is utterly unmemorable - even after eleven listens to this disc. Similarly, one wonders what Taylor was thinking with "Chili Dog" with its inane lines, such as "Make my bed out of wonder bread / Spread some mustard upon my head / I don't want no onions or sauerkraut, mamma / Hold on to the bun baby, work it on out. / I'm a chili dog / I guess you guessed by now / Sure nuf (sic) I'm a chili dog, baby (you and me) / Delicious!" With the massive catalogue of James Taylor tracks in existence it is astonishing to think that he could not come up with a song better than that to pad out this album.

Not that it truly needs any padding. James Taylor enthusiasts will no doubt be psyched by this presentation as it includes James Taylor introducing several of the songs with interesting anecdotes about them.

Instrumentally, One Man Band does not truly live up to its title. Taylor plays the guitar, but he is often accompanied with drums, piano, and some background vocals. Interestingly, he continued to make stylistic choices that allowed him to reinterpret several of the songs through how he used his accompaniment. For example, "Shower The People" has a more stark sound as this version is not overwhelmed with background vocalists. Similarly, "Line 'Em Up" has a different timbre as a result of its backing vocals, at least compared to the album version I heard before this one.

But for those looking for a radical re-interpretation of James Taylor, One Man Band is not it. Despite differences on some songs, many of the songs are the man and his guitar and they sound, well, like the easy listening light rock that they are. One of the nicest aspects of the album is the typical "live" sounds are kept to a minimum!

The DVD is a literal transcription of the concert, so it has only the nineteen tracks from the c.d. version of the event with the same introductions as appear on the audio disc. There are no additional tracks or commentaries. There are, however, four "outtakes." In that section, Taylor stumbles through a take of "Carolina On My Mind," fumbles "Fire And Rain" before talking about a terrible experience he had with the song on the BBC and has make-up applied mid-set. As well, he offers an explanation to "Steamroller" which is actually quite interesting.

Fans of James Taylor will want to include this in their collection and those who are not big fans, this offers a decent enough mix to be a reasonable staple in a collection for one who wants vast diversity. If you need a James Taylor c.d. in your collection, you can do a lot worse than this one and the DVD can be a nice way to kill a couple of hours on a cold, long night.

For other James Taylor albums, please be sure to visit my reviews of:
James Taylor And The Original Flying Machine
Sweet Baby James
Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon
Greatest Hits
New Moon Shine
James Taylor Live
Hourglass
Greatest Hits 2
Appalachian Journey (with Yo-Yo Ma)
October Road
The Best Of James Taylor

7/10

For other album and single reviews, please be sure to check out my Music Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2012, 2008 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

The Lorax Is The Logical Successor To FernGully!

The Good: Great message, Decent 3-D Effects, Moments of character, Voice acting
The Bad: Very predictable plot, Some moments toned down for children
The Basics: In an artificial, manufactured future, a boy goes on a quest to bring back trees in order to impress a girl in The Lorax!


It occurs to me as I contemplate the latest cinematic endeavor based upon the works of Dr. Seuss, The Lorax, that I had only seen one other recent Dr. Seuss adaptation. I was one of the few critics not overly impressed by Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas (reviewed here!) and I did not even bother checking out Dr. Seuss’s The Cat In The Hat with Mike Meyers as a result. So, I was either overdue for some cinematic Dr. Seuss or I was just intrigued enough by the promotions for The Lorax to risk disappointment when I went to the screening.

Fortunately, The Lorax is a lot of fun. More than just being fun, The Lorax has a strong, smart environmental message tailored toward educating and alarming the younger and recently disaffected generations. Perhaps the last time such an overt effort has been made to wake young people up to pending environmental catastrophes was FernGully: The Last Rainforest (reviewed here!). The Lorax succeeds at educating without ever feeling like it is browbeating, probably because the film is so consistently entertaining. As usual in circumstances like these, it has been decades since I read the book The Lorax, so this is a very pure review of the film, without any comparison to the children’s book that spawned it.

In Thneedville, everything is artificial, manufactured to serve the needs of Mr. O’Hare’s business interests. There, the twelve year-old Ted is growing up with a huge crush on Audrey. When Audrey tells Ted that all she truly wants is to see a real, live – not artificial – tree, Ted leaps at the opportunity to win over her heart. This takes Ted, with the help of his Grandma Norma, on a quest outside the walls of Thneedville. Beyond the city, the world is pretty much a stripped, deserted wasteland. Out beyond the boundaries, Ted finds the hermit Once-ler.

The Once-ler tells Ted his story, the story of how he began the deforesting of the world and his encounter with the Lorax. The Lorax, a small creature that advises strongly against cutting down any trees, and the Once-ler get into a conflict. The Lorax wants desperately to save the forests and the creatures living there, while the Once-ler is caught up in producing his Thneed, a device with 100 uses. Eager to win the heart of Audrey, Ted implores the Once-ler to help him find a tree!

The Lorax is much less about the title character and much more about the Once-ler and Ted, though the Lorax is the highlight of the film. The story is very simple and because one goes into the movie knowing a fair amount about the message, it is very hard to complain about the fact that it pretty much goes exactly where one might expect it to. That said, there are far worse things than when a story about saving the world actually pounds that message home and illustrates the potential consequences of failing to protect the environment. The Lorax promotes that message well and delivers a few snappy, fun songs with it to boot.

The Lorax also works well on the character front. Ted and the Once-ler are characterized as foils, just as the Once-ler and the Lorax are opposites. Ted has a wonderful childhood crush on Audrey and the depth of his affection leads him on a quest that helps him love the world (the environment). In stark contrast, the Once-ler is motivated mostly by greed, a self-love. Ignorant to the consequences, the Once-ler is enamored with his own cleverness in creating the Thneed, and he allows his ambition to get the better of him. The dichotomy may be obvious, but it is potent; Ted’s love is positive and flows from him, the Once-ler’s love is concerned more with self-gratification than anything else. And there are worse reasons to want to save the environment than love or romance!

So, the appearance of the Lorax challenges the Once-ler’s sense of ambition and, despite the logic of the argument, fails to sway the Once-ler. The Once-ler is caught in the moment, unable to deal with hypothetical futures. He needs something concrete and the Lorax comes spouting possibilities (albeit high probabilities). In that way, writers Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul (and Dr. Seuss) also make a potent argument for the usefulness of the bearer of bad news. The Lorax is absolutely right in many of his warnings, but he does not present his argument in a way that the Once-ler can actually hear his point. That introduces the intriguing idea that, had the Lorax (and environmentalists in the real world) simply changed their message to suit the recipient, all of the destruction might have been prevented.

The Lorax is presented in beautiful 3-D much the way Despicable Me (reviewed here!) was. The characters are cute and stylized with big eyes and flawless skin. The fur on the Lorax is beautifully rendered on the big screen making the spectacle a surprisingly high selling point for such a substantial film.

As an animated movie, The Lorax features a voice cast, in this case one of the best I have seen and heard in a while. The Lorax might contain the only performance by Rob Riggle (Mr. O’Hare in the film) that I could stand! Zac Efron, Taylor Swift and Betty White dominate the voice talents of the Ted-portion of the movie. Taylor Swift actually impressed me with how her voice is lower in The Lorax than it is on many of her recordings. The Once-ler and Lorax are vocally created by Ed Helms and Danny DeVito, two people who seem exceptionally comfortable in the realm of voiceover work. All of the vocal talents perform well.

This weekend, for a change, audiences have a very clear-cut decision to make when going to the theaters. There is the comparatively highbrow, socially-conscious, solidly entertaining film (The Lorax) and the disappointingly raucous, vacuous, vomit-inducing flick depicting terrible people behaving badly (Project X). I, for one, hope viewers make the smart decision and help Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax bury the other film. If it does, perhaps a bleak, artificial world like the one depicted in The Lorax shall not come to pass.

For other animated films, please check out my reviews of:
Bolt
The Secret World Of Arietty
Wonder Woman

7/10

For other movie reviews, please visit my Movie Review Index Page for an organized list of the hundreds of movies I have reviewed!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

| | |

Bolthouse Farms Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost Drink Fruit Smoothie Is Healthy, Tasty, But Strangely Indistinct.

The Good: Good taste, Very nutritious
The Bad: Expensive, Does not taste distinctly like anything.
The Basics: Bolthouse Farms Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost Fruit Smoothie is a good, but not exceptional, addition to the Bolthouse drink line.


By now, it ought to be clear that I am a fan of Bolthouse Farms healthy beverages. In fact, the only thing that robs Bolthouse Farms drinks of generally higher ratings by me is the expense of the drink. At an average price of $2.99 for a 15.2 fluid ounce bottle, it is a little tough to swallow. Sure, one gets vastly more nutrition from these drinks than from cartons of juice, but for around the same price as a 64 fl. oz. carton, to get only 15.2 fluid ounces – less than two full servings – is a real disappointment.

That said, Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost Fruit Smoothie is good, but not extraordinary. This is one of the more objectively average drinks in the brand’s assortment.

Basics

Bolthouse Farms is a health drink brand, which is like an energy drink except that is designed for more of a full-health solution (as opposed to being a liquid vitamin supplement) and they tend to taste better. This is a fruit beverage that is enhanced with nutrients. Bolthouse Farms Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost comes in a 15.2 fl. oz. plastic bottle that is smooth and very portable. The #1 recyclable bottle is filled with the opaque purple liquid, which looks much like a bunch of fruit was just blended together, that is Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost. Bolthouse Farms juice products is one of the leading manufacturer of healthy prepared beverages, both of fruit juices and dairy beverages.

The 15.2 fl. oz. bottle is intended to give consumers just under two servings, which seems pretty ridiculous to me. For some strange reason, Bolthouse Farms cheaps out on a full 16 fl. oz. bottle, which would be two servings.

Ease Of Preparation

Bolthouse Farms Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost is a liquid in the 15.2 fl. oz. bottle and is a ready-to-drink beverage. So, preparation is as easy as opening a plastic bottle. Berry Boost has a plastic cap that easily twists off and can be put back on in order to reseal it. It is important to note that this is supposed to be refrigerated, so quality of the beverage may degrade if it is left out at room temperature before or after the bottle is open. This has a pretty standard security seal ring around the lower half of the cap and informs the consumer as to whether the product has been opened by cracking off when the top is twisted.

Taste

Bolthouse Farms Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost smells fruity, with the scent dominated by blueberries and strawberries. This adequately prepares the consumer for the flavor of the beverage and anyone who likes fruit is likely to be salivating by the time they finish smelling this!

As for the taste, here Bolthouse Farms makes something both delightful and somewhat odd. The initial flavor of the fruit smoothie is a burst of sweetness. The Berry Boost is distinctly berry-flavored in its taste after that and for every subsequent sip of the drink. The flavor changes with almost every sip from blueberry and raspberry to raspberry and strawberry to blackberry and blueberry . . . the flavor is a solid mash-up of berries and it is good, but it is not at all distinct as a result. In other words, this is like a healthy fruit punch; it is flavored like fruit and tastes good in that regard, but it is somewhat indistinct and does not embody any single (or even a pair of) fruit flavor(s).

The aftertaste from the Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost fruit smoothie is slightly sour, but it is not unpleasant.

Nutrition

As a healthy fruit beverage, Bolthouse Farms Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost Fruit Smoothie is designed to fill in some of the nutritional gaps one might have in their diet, while tasting pretty awesome to boot! Nutritionally, Bolthouse Farms Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost is a great option for those who are dieting or are trying to improve their health. Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost is primarily composed of apple puree from concentrate, apple juice from concentrate, and blackberry puree. It contains nothing bad, but does have additional vitamins pumped into it. It is gluten free and does not appear to contain any meat or dairy products in it, so it IS Vegan compliant! As well, there are no preservatives, artificial flavors or colors or genetically modified ingredients!

This drink is also exceptionally healthy for you. One serving of Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost has 1 g fat and 130 calories, 10 of which come from the fat. While there are 21 grams of sugars, the beverage has no cholesterol nor protein! Rather nicely, there are only 20 mg (1% RDA) of sodium in each serving. A single serving is a sufficient source of Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin B6, Potassium, and Vitamin B12. It has more than your daily needs for Vitamin C.

Storage/Clean-up

Bolthouse Farms Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost comes in a plastic bottle and it keeps for only a few months. The bottle I bought the in mid-February had an expiration date of April 5, 2012. This beverage must be refrigerated!

This drink is a fruit product and bright purple. If this gets on clothes, it will certainly stain them. Consult a care guide for your clothes, though I suspect light clothes would need bleach to get this out. Still, the drink wipes off surfaces easily with a cloth, assuming they are impermeable.

Overall

Bolthouse Farms Antioxidant Rich Berry Boost tastes good, but is what it is. This drink is a pretty indistinct mix of several berries that tastes like a bunch of fruit blended up together. It is okay, but not extraordinary in any way.

For other Bolthouse beverages, please check out my reviews of:
Perfectly Protein Chocolate
Protein Plus Vanilla Chai
Protein Plus Chocolate Mocha

5/10

For other food reviews, please visit my index page for a complete listing by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

Wes Anderson Starts Pretty Big With Bottle Rocket, A Little Film That Could...

The Good: Decent acting, Interesting characters
The Bad: A little slow, Not much happens
The Basics: Wes Anderson spends two-thirds of a film trying to avoid telling a crime caper and manages a decent love story instead.


Watching some of his newer works, it might be fairly easy for one to fear that writer and director Wes Anderson is a one-trick pony. After revealing the full extent of his genius with The Royal Tenenbaums, he essentially remade the same movie twice with his subsequent films. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I went back and watched Rushmore, which he did prior to The Royal Tenenbaums. Because I enjoyed that, I decided to go back to his beginning and watch Bottle Rocket. It's fun sometimes to see how writer/directors get their start and Bottle Rocket is no exception.

Bottle Rocket establishes Anderson's known conceits: in each of his movies (it seems) there is a running scene with the camera tracking the runner, a strong use of soundtrack and a number of moments that are quiet and somewhat awkward. I like those latter moments in Anderson's films; they often happen to me so I see their inclusion in his movies as added realism. His movies tend to need to breathe some and that works well. It works well in Bottle Rocket especially, because not so much happens in this movie.

Anthony Adams is rescued from a mental health institution where he has voluntarily checked himself in by Dignan, an idiot who has a plan for the rest of their lives that involves a crime spree. Dignan, Anthony and Bob rob Anthony's house in order to have enough money to stay on the run until they are able to hook up with Mr. Henry, a supposedly notorious crime boss that Dignan used to work for. After robbing a book store, the trio descends upon a motel to lay low for a while.

While Bob is called back home to help get his brother out of a legal jam involving pot being grown in the backyard, Anthony falls in love with the beautiful housekeeper Inez. Determined to stay with her, but bothered by Dignan, they eventually set out to find Mr. Henry and begin their planned life of crime . . . with unexpected results.

Bottle Rocket is a very slow movie and it is inappropriately billed as a crime caper. Instead of being a crime caper, it is pretty much a group of people waiting to become criminals and the one whom the audience empathizes with most (Anthony) falls in love instead. Far more time is spent in Bottle Rocket with getting Anthony to Inez and then him trying to communicate with her and fall in love with her than with any of the Dignan plots. Instead, the film is something of a farce on the expectations of what a crime movie will be.

This puts director Wes Anderson in something of a bind because the script he and co-writer Owen Wilson wrote ends up being a movie that is not much of anything. It is a period of transition for Anthony and Dignan and it is entertaining for those patient enough to go along with it, but not so much for those who might be looking for something meaningful. It is a pretty standard Wes Anderson dramedy, though, effectively mixing quirky characters with a dramatic situation that results in a film that is both funny and dramatic.

The aspect of Bottle Rocket that is a tough sell is certainly in the plot. This is not a movie where much happens, but as a debut film goes, it quickly becomes a decent exercise in style to illustrate just what Wes Anderson is capable of. In fact, the only usual conceit included in a Wes Anderson film that is not in Bottle Rocket is an appearance by Bill Murray. James Caan more than makes up for that as Mr. Henry.

Because so little happens in Bottle Rocket, the film largely rests on the backs of the actors and the characters they portray to sell the story. Owen Wilson plays Dignan and Bottle Rocket is not a bad outing for him. Owen is able to deadpan remarkably well and he has some of the most memorable one-liners in the film. Running around with a buzz cut, he smoothly delivers a line about simply liking short hair to someone who assumes Dignan is in the military. Owen gets an easy laugh with the simple line in that case and it works beautifully to establish the character.

Outside the performance by Owen Wilson, though, Dignan is a largely unlikable character and one who seems to waste much of the viewer's time and attention on screen. Instead, the storyline between Anthony and Inez is far more compelling. Theirs is a simple love story but it works because both characters seem to want many of the same things. So, despite the fact that Inez does not speak much English, when Anthony makes it clear how he feels about her, the film is a pleasant and quiet little love story more than anything else. It's almost too bad that Dignan comes back to upset that story with his witless crime schemes and the pursuit of Mr. Henry.

Lumi Cavazos plays Inez and she has a very simple and powerful screen presence that makes her a good rival for screentime with Owen Wilson. Where Owen is frenetic and moves so much and says so much, Cavazos establishes her character with a minimal amount of movement and dialogue. She is stunning to view and quietly brilliant in the simplicity of her performance.

Cavazos plays well off Luke Wilson, who plays Anthony. Luke Wilson gives a subtle performance of his own, much different from, for example, his role in My Super Ex-Girlfrend. In Bottle Rocket, he is quiet, thoughtful and plays a character who has tangible sense of insecurity to him. Luke portrays this with a very introverted sense of body language, holding himself with a slight slouch and delivering his lines in a quiet timbre that is realistic for one who might have recently had a nervous breakdown.

Bottle Rocket is a tough sell and I think I enjoyed it more because it showed a solid start for director Wes Anderson. On DVD, there is a commentary track and trailers, but not much more (I did not have access to the Criterion Collection DVD). The film looks and sounds good, though. This movie has an art house movie feel to it and those who go into it with that as the expectation are much more likely to enjoy it than those who go in figuring it will be some great crime caper.

For other works by Wes Anderson, be sure to visit my reviews of:
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Darjeeling Limited
The Squid And The Whale
The Royal Tenenbaums

5.5/10

For other movie reviews, please visit my Film Review Index Page for an organized listing of all my movie reviews!

© 2012, 2008 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

The Dismal Sylvan Beach Amusement Park (Nothing Amusing About Proposing Here!)!

Sylvan Beach,New York,USA
The Good: Nice small town feel, Friendly people
The Bad: Relatively expensive for the size/location, Fairly dirty
The Basics: Small and dirty, Sylvan Beach Amusement Park is more or less guaranteed to disappoint people who want real fun.


Virtually every day for the past five years, I have driven past the Sylvan Beach Amusement Park in Sylvan Beach, New York. For years, I drove by it to take my spouse to work or to pick my spouse up at work and since the divorce, I have driven by it to get everywhere else. Sylvan Beach Amusement Park is situated in Sylvan Beach - essentially a one street town - off Oneida Lake and the fastest way to get from the north shore of the lake to places like Syracuse, Oneida, Canastota, and even just the New York State Thruway, is to go through Sylvan Beach, past the amusement park.

In the summer, Sylvan Beach Amusement Park is a bustling little cash cow for the local economy and in the winter, it is a skeleton of snow drifts and abandonment. I'm not sure which is better considering the mediocre state of this amusement park.

Location

On Route 13 in Sylvan Beach, New York, Sylvan Beach Amusement Park is a strip of rides more or less right off the sidewalk between the major route and the waterfront. Being liberal with the dimensions, this is park is perhaps a half mile long by a quarter mile deep (much more likely about 3/8 miles long by 300 meters deep), with about twenty rides, an arcade and various food stands. As well, there is now a small miniature golf section in the park, which is right off the roadside, so it encourages players to aim well.

Sylvan Beach is pretty much the back end of nowhere in Upstate New York. It is about twenty-five miles from Syracuse, NY and about the same distance to Utica, NY. Outside the amusement park and a few dining options, there is nothing to do in Sylvan Beach, save swim or boat (if one has a boat). This small amusement park is basically set on asphalt and grass feet away from a one lane (each direction) route that carries all sorts of traffic around Oneida Lake. The park is basically bordered by road, parking lot, lake, and a small cross street/beach on its four sides.

Ease Of Local Transport/Parking

If you can find Oneida Lake and Route 13, Sylvan Beach Amusement Park is easy enough to find. From the Thruway, head away from Canastota (a right when you get off at the Canastota exit, Exit 34), and in approximately eight miles, there it is on the left. Sylvan Beach Amusement Park is generally only crowded in the summertime.

Parking has recently become a sore spot, especially for the locals. Route 13 has parking right on it, at least on the park-side of the street. However, in the summer, there is a fee to park and the Pay-To-Park meters only allow one to pay for two hours, before one moves their car. As well, pay-to-park meters have been put up in the parking lot for the Sylvan Beach Amusement Park. Anyone planning to spend time at the beach or the amusement park ought to bring $5 - $10 and plan on moving the car periodically while at Sylvan Beach Amusement Park. The State Trooper's office is on the same lawn as the amusement park and they have been very proud of their local ticketing abilities the last few years.

Activity/Purpose

Well, Sylvan Beach Amusement Park is - allegedly - a place to go and be amused, at lease for a few hours. During the day, there is miniature golf, an arcade with a few video games and skeeball, a haunted house, a giant slide, a roller coaster and several rides. Rides include: tea cups, a kiddie coaster (it goes up and down in a wave as opposed to upside down or such), a tilt-a-whirl, bumper cars, and a spinning ride with two cars at opposite ends of a long, centrally pivoting pole (I've no clue what the name of it is, though).

The roller coaster is a very simple metal and wood coaster with a steep initial incline, two rough turns and no loops. It is only about three stories high, so it does not go terribly fast or vigorously. The scariest aspect of it is that it creaks something fierce when riding it, so there is the sensation that at any moment the whole thing could collapse. That is far more frightening than the actual speeds of it.

Similarly, the haunted house ride is a lame little predictable dark ride with things that jump out or glow at pretty predictable intervals. The giant slide is very much for kids, about two and a half stories up, the plastic slide is a pretty conservative descent and it is only open when there is a guard on duty, so it is pretty safe.

The rest of the rides are very typical: the tea cups twirl, the tilt-a-whirl goes fast round and round, then rises to take a place more or less perpendicular to the ground. And after watching Carnivale (reviewed here!) for the last few weeks and seeing the Colossus ferris wheel, the Sylvan Beach Amusement Park's ferris wheel (which is not taller than the roller coaster) seems pitiful by comparison.

More than that, the rides are almost universally dirty, which I suppose is to be expected wherever children are involved. However, having been to well-maintained theme parks, this one seems especially dirty. Indeed, virtually every surface at Sylvan Beach Amusement Park seems to be coated in leftover ice cream, snot and dirt from children who have played on the beach, sneezed and then ridden the rides (not as an organized movement, you understand, but this seems to be how it all gets everywhere). In riding the bumper cars years ago, was quite happy when I found one car that was clean and my germaphobe companion found one she could live with. But once we got those cars, we sure stayed in them!

There is skeeball, which earns the player tickets that can be redeemed for things like little plastic rings. This should not be an excuse to play skeeball and/or propose at Sylvan Beach. Seriously, hold off for someplace classy. With more tickets, for example, one can win stuffed animals or little plastic spiders. Go for those!

In the main Sylvan Beach Amusement Park, rides are paid for via tickets. Tickets (last time I went) were 3/$1.00 with bulk packages for $5.00, $10.00, etc. I used to go on their "Unlimited Ride Night," which allowed us to ride all the rides after 7 P.M. on Wednesday for $10.00. We rode the bumper cars for hours those nights. Good times, kid crud and all.

It ought to be noted, though, that despite my generalized loathing of children, Sylvan Beach Amusement Park has the benefit of being a remarkably safe place for children. Sylvan Beach is a relatively small community, there is a New York State Troopers office right on the grounds and it is very well patrolled, including at night (note to adults: it is well-patrolled at night! NOT a good place to sit in the car necking!). There is a very low occurrence of child-related problems at Sylvan Beach Amusement Park, at least that make the press.

Dining

At Sylvan Beach Amusement Park there is a pizza stand that makes pizza and fried dough. As well, there is a kiosk with hot dogs and hamburgers and another that sells cotton candy and snow cones. This is, of course, carnival type food as expected. Across the street from Sylvan Beach Amusement Park, there are two pizza places, a nice diner, and a fine dining restaurant as well as a new night club (hey, we locals were as surprised by that as outsiders who see us as hicksville!). On the same strip, there is the famous local restaurant Eddie's and the fine seafood restaurant, Captain John's.

But at the amusement park, there is pretty much just fast food which leaves children with sticky or slimy hands.


Shopping

The closest to shopping that Sylvan Beach Amusement Park has is the skeeball alley with its tickets that can be redeemed for prizes. On the strip across from the park are places to shop, like a swim shop. Just down the way is a Dollar General, a local convenience store, and the local head shop*

Overall

Sylvan Beach Amusement Park is about an hour's worth of fun, so it's a tough sell for those looking to make a vacation here. As part of a day at the beach or one of the local state parks, I suppose it could be an interesting distraction. But for people who are young, in love and looking to get out of the apartment, there are vastly better - even less expensive - places to go for a fun night.

For other New York parks, be sure to visit my reviews of:
Fair Haven State Park
Chittenango Falls State Park
Green Lakes State Park


* The local head shop was recently closed down and currently the building is occupied by - no kidding - a pool and spa seller.

2/10

For other destinations, please visit my Travel Review Index Page for a complete, organized list of my travel reviews!

© 2012, 2008 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

| | |

Violence And What Is Not Shown Makes Reservoir Dogs!

The Good: Good acting, Some interesting characters, Concept, Mood
The Bad: Carnage, Too much exposition, Lack of fleshing out of some characters
The Basics: In Quentin Tarantino's classic crime film Reservoir Dogs, a bunch of guys get together and talk about events we don't see and find hard to get passionate about caring about.


Quentin Tarantino seems to be one of those directors whose work people either love or hate. It's rare to find someone with a middle-of-the-road view on the way he continually pushes the envelope with violence in his movies. At long last, I was able to sit down and watch Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino's first successful film and I found myself with a razor decision on my hands (no pun intended, for those who have seen the film).

Reservoir Dogs follows the lives of a small group of career criminals. They set out to make a heist, but things go horribly awry. Now, following the botched job, the criminals converge on an abandoned warehouse to figure out what happened, who survived, and what to do next. But the problems what went down before and during the heist, like the presence of a snitching undercover cop and a bona fide psychopath, resurface and threaten the survival of the survivors.

The first thing of import to know about Reservoir Dogs is that it is not terribly violent. Indeed, almost all of the gore and horrific violence occurs off-screen. The viewer, for example, does not see the actual heist or how it degenerates into a killing spree. We are only told about it by the surviving characters.

So, unlike some of Tarantino's other films, this is a real talking picture. It's a bunch of people standing around, for the most part, talking. It is, essentially, a stage play performed on a movie screen by a group of very well-cast actors. But, in the end, the bulk of the movie is a bunch of people talking and it could conceivably have been pulled off as a play.

Two of the criminals, Mr. White and Mr. Orange, arrive at the warehouse, Mr. Orange having been shot in the belly. Mr. Orange is dying, rapidly, and Mr. White is trying to figure out how to save his life. As he frets about, Mr. Pink arrives. Mr. Pink is mostly a professional, quickly emphasizing that the speed at which the police appeared on the scene of the heist indicates a snitch in their midst. Acting as a professional, Mr. Pink wants to make a getaway, fearing that whoever set up the group, is likely to show up at the warehouse. Mr. White and Mr. Pink provide needed exposition, describing how Mr. Blonde began killing people in the jewelry store, when Mr. Blonde arrives.

Mr. Blonde's arrival introduces the criminals to their opportunity for vengeance, as the criminal has abducted a police officer from the scene of the heist. The officer is tied to a chair and tortured, but it is through his presence that all of the truths about the bungled heist are revealed. Interspersed with the present pageant of the failed heist are the stories of how each of the main surviving characters arrived at the job.

In the final analysis, it's easy to see why Tarantino achieved so much following this film. It's a decent film. The characters are mostly interesting, especially Mr. Pink and Mr. White. But beyond that, the acting is tremendous. Tarantino cast the parts in Reservoir Dogs perfectly, with wonderful visual differences and distinctive characteristics for each character cast.

Harvey Keitel is wonderful as Mr. White. He is at times hard, at times surprisingly tender and likable. Tim Roth is decent as Mr. Orange, taking a role that could easily have degenerated into a whiny, annoying character, and presenting him with genuine pathos and emotion. Roth makes Mr. Orange tortured and sympathetic in his plight. And Michael Madsen is wonderfully stone-faced as Mr. Blonde, adding true menace to the psychopathic character.

It is Steve Buscemi who steals the show, though, as Mr. Pink. Buscemi has presence and serves as more than simple comic relief. He infuses a character with a catch phrase ("I'm a professional") with real emotion, connoting in his body language and the passion expressed through his eyes that he is someone who believes in what he is doing and the "rules of the game." Buscemi is quick and has an excellent sense of timing to keep his character feeling very real and genuine.

And Tarantino must be credited with keeping in so much of the movie's moments where the characters are expressed by miniscule slips by the actors. Indeed, there are moments where Buscemi is yelling at Keitel that he pauses awkwardly, clearly rephrasing on a line, and it works to make the character seem more frantic and true-to-life and Tarantino keeps it in the film. It adds to the tension and reality of the time and place the viewer finds themselves in.

But ultimately, like the most mediocre of plays, Reservoir Dogs suffers because of the burdens that are put on the characters to explain the plot. I, for one, like the fact that we do not see what went down at the heist. However, it forces the characters to tell and retell their stories and the process of trying to piece together the events sometimes comes across as clumsy or repetitive. And the line that opens one of the film's most memorable scenes, delivered by Michael Madsen, seems a bit on the nose, even for a psychopath who knows what he is.

As well, the movie suffers from character inconsistencies. Mr. White seems like an intelligent criminal, a guy who has been around. His loss of professionalism in his conversations with Mr. Orange, then, are terribly troubling. Nice Guy Eddie is a terrible waste of space (he is overshadowed by his boss, Joe Cabot, played powerfully by Lawrence Tierney) and the film could have done without him. As well, two of the characters, Mr. Brown and Mr. Blue, are completely underused and one wonders why they were present other than to add realism to the carnage related by revealing they have been killed.

In all, Reservoir Dogs is not a bad movie, though it has its moments of graphic violence, the majority of the worst of it happens off camera. But it's also one that is hard to want to rewatch for someone who is a fan of a well-conceived crime caper (The Usual Suspects still reigns supreme in my book for the genre) because too much of it is repetitive or explaining what happened. Thus, the razor falls just barely on the side of "not recommend." A great cast populating a world of characters that are on the edge of worth-watching, falls just short of the classic I had hoped.

For other works by Quentin Tarantino, please visit my reviews of:
Kill Bill, Volume 2
Kill Bill, Volume 1

5.5/10

For other film reviews, please be sure to visit my Movie Review Index Page for an organized listing of all movies that I have reviewed!

© 2012, 2007, 2005 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |

The Flash: Born To Run Is The Origin Story Of Wally West!

The Good: Decent origin story, Fair artwork, Decent character development.
The Bad: No compelling villains, Very standard plot, Requires a lot of suspension of disbelief, typos.
The Basics: The Flash: Born To Run is a very basic story that establishes Wally West as the (new) adult Flash in the DC Universe.


As my Flash Year continues, I am excited to get in some new (to me) graphic novels to enjoy. My excitement is actually pretty high right now in this regard because I just finished reading The Flash: Born To Run. I gather, because there was enough demand to return Barry Allen to the DC Universe, that Wally West is not the most popular incarnation of the Flash. The thing is, I like Wally West and The Flash: Born To Run is the story of his taking up the mantle of the adult Flash. I think I like Wally West because the first few books I read with Wally West had great villains with stories that were pretty angsty and interesting. The Flash: Born To Run, by contrast, is a very standard superhero origin story and as such, it fills more of a “necessary evil” slot in the Flash graphic novel pantheon.

That said, writer Mark Waid - who wrote most of The Flash: Born To Run - does a decent job at bringing Wally West to life and having him come into his own. For anyone who has not read any Flash comics or graphic novels, The Flash: Born To Run is a great place to start!

Living far away from Central City, Wally West is sent to visit his Aunt Iris one summer in Central City, the home of the Flash. Wally West is a huge fan of the Flash and is very excited when he and Iris witness a crime foiled by the Flash. Aunt Iris introduces Wally to her very boring (and perpetually late) fiancé Barry Allen. After boring the life out of Wally, Barry has a very cool surprise for the boy; a meeting with the Flash! The Flash plays up Barry to Wally and starts to answer Wally’s questions about how he became the Flash. Unfortunately, while describing the accident that transformed him into the Flash, a virtually identical lightning strike occurs, transforming Wally West into a speedster as well!

Following the incident, Wally West explores his new powers and, under the guidance of the Flash, he learns the tricks of the trade. Soon, Central City has two speedsters protecting it and Wally West is excited to use his own skills to solve cases. On his first solo adventure against the Mirror Master, though, Wally experiences a seizure and the Flash takes him to the doctor (ironically, his own grandfather) and Wally is told he must not run again at super speeds. After returning home to his distant father, Wally learns an important truth about his existence.

The book also includes a one-shot “Day Two” which involves Wally West’s second day as Kid Flash and that is a fun story more for charm than actual depth. The book concludes with a pretty standard Wally West adventure wherein the Flash goes up against Cobalt Blue!

The Flash: Born To Run requires one pretty immense suspension of disbelief in that the virtually identical accident would happen to Wally West that happened to Barry Allen. If you can make that leap, the book is pretty good, if very standard. In other words, The Flash: Born To Run is exactly what one might expect from a superhero origin story and with that in mind, it is fine, but it is not exceptional, like some of Mark Waid’s other works, most notably Kingdom Come (reviewed here!). Still, for those looking to find a good beginning for Wally West, The Flash: Born To Run delivers.

And in The Flash: Born To Run, Wally West is, at worst, an interesting character. Starting as an excitable ten year-old boy, Wally is enthusiastic, clever and fun. His eagerness to see the Flash while in Central City reads as very true and Wally is a vibrant character from the outset. The Flash: Born To Run does a very good job of taking that ball of clay and molding it into a character who quickly becomes an endearing one! The Flash: Born To Run is great for fans of the Flash because it establishes a character who it is easy to root for and enjoy reading the adventures of. And watching Wally develop even through the course of The Flash: Born To Run is engaging. Making the journey from child to teen to responsible young adult, The Flash: Born To Run helps evolve Wally West in a reasonable and reasonably entertaining fashion.

The Flash: Born To Run has generally decent artwork. Wally West and Barry Allen are kept in their costumes for most of the book, but when they are not, they are fairly recognizable in their mundane forms. The Flash: Born To Run has a good sense of movement, both within panels and between panels. The coloring for The Flash: Born To Run is a little less impressive than I would like, but it reflects the standards of the time well. As a result, the pages have more of a comic strip feel in terms of the coloring, as opposed to a rich comic book feel like one might expect now with colors possessing rich depth and shading.

The Flash: Born To Run is also less-than-flawless on the editing front. Sadly, there are a few typos in The Flash: Born To Run. So, for example, on page 34 “expect” is used where the author clearly intended the word to be “except.” This is a comparatively minor thing, but it is annoying that such things were not fixed prior to the comics being anthologized.

Ultimately, The Flash: Born To Run is a good graphic novel, but is in no way superlative. Those who want to get to know Wally West, though, will find The Flash: Born To Run a great place to start!

For other Flash graphic novels, please be sure to visit my reviews of:
The Return Of Barry Allen
Blitz
The Secret Of Barry Allen
Terminal Velocity
Flash: Rebirth

5/10

For other book reviews, please visit my Book Review Index Page for an organized listing of all the book reviews I have written!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
| | |