aukestrel Reviews

Code Name: Eternity (2000)

OH BROTHER is right.

[11 August 2005]

I couldn't agree more with the writer of the "Oh brother" comments than if I had written it myself. Not only is this a good concept badly executed but for some reason they cast actors who could be outshone in a 3rd grade play. Laura seems to have one voice pitch: monotone; and it's exacerbated by the fact that she seems to be reading cue cards rather than playing a role and exerting any feeling for her character. Ethaniel is not much better, but he does manage some pitch and intonation from time to time.

What a waste... yet they cancel something amazing like Firefly. Go figure.

My Life as a Dog (1995–1996)

A gentle, poignant, and funny look

[17 July 2005]

This show, set in the Manitoba town of Gimli, has undefinable but authentic Canadian prairie air. It's the story of a boy sent to live with his uncle, his mother's twin, and his aunt, after the death of his mother.

The main characters, Eric, Johnny, AJ, and Zoe, maintain the high standards of outstanding Canadian acting, and the supporting cast is, as always, both amusing and dead-on.

My kids love to watch our tapes of this - they identify strongly with Eric. I like it myself because it's got that slight spin of Canadian insanity that makes it so different from mainstream US "pop" TV. Not every episode has a moral lesson; not every moral lesson is pounded into the ground; and sometimes, as in real life, there's no resolution to the problem.

"A Day In The Life" is probably my favourite episode. If you get a chance to watch this show, make time to do so.

Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning (2004)

Impressive and suspenseful

[9/10 · 16 April 2005]

I watched this because I saw the original Ginger Snaps and was very impressed with its originality, storyline, and acting. This version - "The Beginning" - did not disappoint, although I thought it would. Katharine Isabelle and Emily Perkins do a great job and Hugh Dillon is very creepy as the hellfire and brimstone minister. The rest of the cast turns in the usual spectacular (at least by Hollywood standards) performances we've come to expect from Canadian actors. As a student of history, it was fascinating to see the meticulously recreated company fort as well. I'm still not sure how the chief factor managed to keep his little secret hidden in a barely-locked room in a place where everyone had his nose in everyone else's business, but this is a minor quibble. Definitely worth seeing.