mrv3000: made by elismor (disneyland - old school)
mrv3000 ([personal profile] mrv3000) wrote2008-02-18 09:34 am

I need to find a printer.

I've been watching The Riches the last few days, and am really enjoying it. I guess with Eddie Izzard as a main character, I was expecting it to be more of a comedy. It does have its funny moments, but it's not really a comedy. It's pretty dark a lot of times. But it's good.

There aren't usually any big shocking moments or melodrama, but it's fascinating. They're sort of deconstructing society by putting people so far outside of social norms into these roles. Nothing ever is really portrayed as "better" - their former family/nomad/tribe existence or their new affluent/social-norm existence. They definitely idealize the former, but find that there are just as many ugly things about that as well. Basically, it comes down to figuring out what to hang on to and what you can love in this life. It's strange, for as much deception and lying and ugliness that you see, it's still quite life-affirming, especially in how much the two main characters love each other (Minnie Driver plays opposite of Eddie Izzard) in spite of all the crap they go through.





I expected horrible cheesiness in the new Knight Rider movie, and it was there in SPADES. It was laughably wretched. Probably the most amusing part was how they tried to give son-of-Michael depth. "Woe, I have never loved and so I'm going to have random threesomes to fill the hole in my soul." HA!! Oh, and trying to bilk some people out of $90,000? Yeah, Mike Jr.'s a real asshole. But, you know, he's a bad boy on his way to being redeemed! So...he gets to continue to be an asshole -- more of a soulful dickweed, really -- but with a really cool car. I hate this show already.

Part of Mike Jr.'s angst and woe come from the fact that his father (the Hoff) abandoned him when he was 5. We later find out it was because of some bullshit "he had obligations" reason. I think they might have actually said, "he had obligations" and left it at that. He clearly isn't working for Knight Industries, so I'm guessing his obligations included trying to get another Baywatch movie on the air. The Hoff does make an appearance at the end at Mike's mother's funeral. He shakes his son's hand and then leaves, saying he hopes he'll see him around. Asshole Sr. right there.

But hey, things are looking up for Mike Jr.: he's now got a crew of this old guy (playing the role of the doddering scientist), the probable love interest of the scientist's daughter (playing the role of the standard victim), the FBI agent (playing the role of the show's lesbian), and the mechanic (playing the role of goofy best friend.)

Oh, and then there's the car who's a good fifty times better than all these people combined -- except maybe the FBI agent -- and needs to ditch them.

[identity profile] greenpear.livejournal.com 2008-02-18 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I am so "I don't want to watch this drek". I figure I've got tons of better stuff to watch.

Probably the most amusing part was how they tried to give son-of-Michael depth.

See! See! DREK!!! When they don't have good writing, they throw angsty stoopidty in...

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2008-02-18 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
*nods*

Like, you can't even *compare* Knight Rider to The Riches.

[identity profile] greenpear.livejournal.com 2008-02-18 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
The Riches are one of my "on deck" shows. Since I just finished "Classic Who" and am getting into New Who many shows are "on deck". Like Robin Hood, and a few others.

But !NOT¡ Knight-Rider...

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2008-02-18 07:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd definitely recommend The Riches, especially if you're in the mood for something different from the usual.

[identity profile] splash-the-cat.livejournal.com 2008-02-18 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
It was SO AWESOMELY CHEESE-TASTIC, right down to the Hoff cameo. I may have squeed with delight.

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2008-02-18 07:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I thought about you during this! :D

[identity profile] splash-the-cat.livejournal.com 2008-02-18 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee! I was also laughing at the [livejournal.com profile] dwinn, who had a total Comic Guy fanboy rage moment that they'd changed both the make of the car and the voice.

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2008-02-18 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww, poor guy! They're wrecking his childhood! But did he see that KITT could change colors? It's like those hotwheels you squirt hot water on! His inner 5-year-old had to love that!

Huh. IMDB says the voice of KITT is done by Val Kilmer. Easy money, I guess.

OH! And I forgot about the standard British bad guy! Who worked for BlackRIVER. OMG.

[identity profile] threerings.livejournal.com 2008-02-19 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
It's like those hotwheels you squirt hot water on!

I just have to say that those things were bitchin'!

And If they changed KITT's voice, I'm not getting anywhere near that show. Not to mention the blatant car ads.

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2008-02-19 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
It was Ford-world on the show! Even the bad guy's car was a Ford! Which had air bags that deployed and the driver survived a horrible crash. BUT IT WASN'T AN AD!

[identity profile] hyari.livejournal.com 2008-02-19 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
Aww, to me, new Knight Rider will always be known as the "show I would've watched if they'd kept Will Arnett on" but didn't cause they didn't.

Yay, more The Riches. The leads do a good job of making me forget who they are, but the kids also are fabulous.
Edited 2008-02-19 04:01 (UTC)

[identity profile] mrv3000.livejournal.com 2008-02-19 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Aww, to me, new Knight Rider will always be known as the "show I would've watched if they'd kept Will Arnett on" but didn't cause they didn't.

That would have been awesome! Also, KITT should call Mike a dipshit (or any variation thereof) more.

Yay, more The Riches. The leads do a good job of making me forget who they are, but the kids also are fabulous.

I know - Minnie Driver especially. Occasionally I get a hint of Eddie wanting to launch into his standup, but I don't care. Also, I squeed when they got to use their own accents in an episode.