I'll never understand the executive decision for axing this show - a show with so much heart and potential. Granted, some of the episodes were a bit loopy, but what matters to me the most as a viewer who was charmed by Matt Dallas' superlative performance was the fact it's a story with a lot of heart in it. I was hooked from the first shot as the camera panned over Kyle's shivering form from the first episode until he became a high-functioning teenager, desperate to fit in. Coupled with intriguing storyline with well-crafted drama and mystery, it's a winning formula. I don't know about other viewers, but as someone with a sibling with autism, I thought Matt's performance caught my heart and attention and triggered some important and relevant dialogs. I love how his adoptive family develop along with him as he tried to gauge his own secrets. The trouble with the entertainment world is, they never seem to get that we as viewers NEED more shows like this! Not time-wasting junks like the Kardashian boob-tube. And that's just it. Heart. I am using that term over and over again in this review to express what a wonderful show Kyle XY was. What shame that it had such a short, short life. Oh, what a pity.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Stormbreaker
(2006)
What went wrong?
12 May 2007
The Stormbreaker book is a brilliant piece of fiction for young adults everywhere. It has all the right appeal of action, adventure and perhaps even the rites of coming of age as young Alex Rider struggles between his yearnings to be a normal schoolboy and a forced recruit for the unscrupulous MI6. Anthony Horowitz had written the story brilliantly, working out the plot and at the same time, reaching into the depth of young Alex Rider's mind and emotions. So when news about him writing an Alex Rider, one can't help but feel excited about it. Unfortunately, when the movie was finally out, disappointment sets in instead.
What went wrong?
The Stormbreaker movie pales in comparison to the intelligently-written book. The biggest error is in casting Alicia Silverstone for the role of Jack Starbright. Other than that, what reeks about the movie is its awkward dosage of childish appeal and poor comic. We have the right actors in the right roles (with the exception of Miss Silverstone). But in whole, I think the problem lies in the direction itself. One of the scenes that stood out the most like a sore thumb is the bizarre fight scene between Jack Starbright and henchwoman Nadia Vole (Missi Pyle).
On the bright side, Alex Pettyfer fits the role as young Alex Rider. He wasn't particularly spectacular, but he did well. The strongest parts come about when Alex Rider and international assassin Yassen Gregorovich (Damian Lewis) are in the same scenes together. They have this connection which is intriguing to the viewers. You just can't miss it. Unfortunately, that's basically the only thing that's notable in this movie. While Bill Nighy may seem perfect as the head of the MI6 Alan Blunt, his odd ticks and twitching threw me off. The villains are too comical to a point of absurdity (except for Lewis' portrayal of Gregorovich), a stark contrast to the darkness of the villains written in the book. The liberal changes made to the storyline did not help improve the movie one bit. Sabina Pleasure's sudden presence in the movie proved to be more of a distraction than anything else, and puts a crimp in Alex's development as a character.
All in all, it is a disappointing watch. Watchable, yes, but true fans of the series will be bitterly disappointed. It's not that bad, but all the same - it could have been a better movie than it is. Too bad for poor directions, writings and miscasting of certain roles.
What went wrong?
The Stormbreaker movie pales in comparison to the intelligently-written book. The biggest error is in casting Alicia Silverstone for the role of Jack Starbright. Other than that, what reeks about the movie is its awkward dosage of childish appeal and poor comic. We have the right actors in the right roles (with the exception of Miss Silverstone). But in whole, I think the problem lies in the direction itself. One of the scenes that stood out the most like a sore thumb is the bizarre fight scene between Jack Starbright and henchwoman Nadia Vole (Missi Pyle).
On the bright side, Alex Pettyfer fits the role as young Alex Rider. He wasn't particularly spectacular, but he did well. The strongest parts come about when Alex Rider and international assassin Yassen Gregorovich (Damian Lewis) are in the same scenes together. They have this connection which is intriguing to the viewers. You just can't miss it. Unfortunately, that's basically the only thing that's notable in this movie. While Bill Nighy may seem perfect as the head of the MI6 Alan Blunt, his odd ticks and twitching threw me off. The villains are too comical to a point of absurdity (except for Lewis' portrayal of Gregorovich), a stark contrast to the darkness of the villains written in the book. The liberal changes made to the storyline did not help improve the movie one bit. Sabina Pleasure's sudden presence in the movie proved to be more of a distraction than anything else, and puts a crimp in Alex's development as a character.
All in all, it is a disappointing watch. Watchable, yes, but true fans of the series will be bitterly disappointed. It's not that bad, but all the same - it could have been a better movie than it is. Too bad for poor directions, writings and miscasting of certain roles.
Firefly
(2002–2003)
What a pity - and it's a real shiny show, too!
13 November 2006
On my boyfriend's recommendation, I got myself a Firefly DVD box set, sat down and watched the entire series. Before I knew it, I fell absolutely in love with it. Imagine my dismay when I found out that the series's life was cut short. Why? This series has one of the best cast ensemble I've seen in recent years. Led by the gruff and cynical but likable Capt. Malcolm Reynolds (brilliantly played by Nathan Fillion), Fate had thrown this bunch of nine odd misfits together in a Firefly-class space ship aptly named "Serenity". Two ex-soldiers, a boorish yet likable mercenary, a priest with a mysterious past, a bubbly mechanic, a pilot with boyish tendencies, a beautiful courtesan, a fugitive doctor and his sister... what an odd combination! If you are a big fan of adventure, old Western movies or Sci-Fi, this is the show for you. Beautiful, witty, humorous and touching, it's very family-oriented. This series is probably Josh Whedon's baby. I love the way these characters are integrated together - they all have a great chemistry going for them. One of the most remarkable touch in the series has to be the brother-sister relationship between the good doctor and his broken sister. It's a beautiful thing to behold. Another interesting twist is how the future is portrayed with a colorful melting-pot of Eastern and Western cultures fused together. That and with a totalitarian government looming in the dark shadows of the space, what you get is a great TV show.
The mythology of the series is very vast and exciting. It's a shame that what could have been one of the most wonderful saga ever aired on TV is short-lived. As long as the crew and Serenity will keep on flying in our hearts, like the ballad goes, "You can't take the sky from me..." - it won't completely die out.
The mythology of the series is very vast and exciting. It's a shame that what could have been one of the most wonderful saga ever aired on TV is short-lived. As long as the crew and Serenity will keep on flying in our hearts, like the ballad goes, "You can't take the sky from me..." - it won't completely die out.
Sleeper Cell
(2005–2006)
Impressive Character Development
11 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
*BE WARNED OF POSSIBLE SPOILERS*
A friend told me to check out this series, and I'm glad I took her words for it.
I read the synopsis on the DVD cover and I was immediately intrigued. The main protagonist is Muslim? No way, this is a first! It's about an FBI agent who is under deep cover to penetrate a possible sleeper cell in LA; and get this - he is a practicing Muslim. I was a little skeptical at first, half-expecting some hero or the antagonist to spout maybe silly, gratuitous and mindless holier-than-thou fanatic drivels... let's face it, a lot of shows have been guilty of this.
But then I watched the first three episodes, and I thought: Okay, this is good. It wasn't until episode four ("Scholar") when I was well and truly impressed. I would like to commend on the great writing and also, superb performances from the actors. I just love how complex every one of these characters - they're not straight out two-dimensional cardboard cutout good guys/bad guys. Michael Ealy gives a wonderful and believable performance as the Muslim FBI agent Darwyn Al-Sayeed, treading the fine line between being the good Muslim and being a man with flaws. Oded Fehr gives his character Farik an interesting depth - Farik is not the typical oily Middle Eastern stereotype, but simply someone who truly believes in his cause and doesn't see himself as a fanatic but a man willing to do whatever extreme measures to justify his beliefs. He's very charismatic and authoritative. But I would say that it was Alex Nesic's performance that clearly left an impression in me in "Scholar". His portrayal of his character's emotional struggle was amazing - torn between the softly spoken words of a Muslim scholar encouraging him to return to the non-aggressive way because it is the only acceptable way in God's eye and Farik's persuasion to believe otherwise.
I'm looking forward to watch more shows like this, and not some ridiculously high-octane one man show series. It's clever and open-minded.
A friend told me to check out this series, and I'm glad I took her words for it.
I read the synopsis on the DVD cover and I was immediately intrigued. The main protagonist is Muslim? No way, this is a first! It's about an FBI agent who is under deep cover to penetrate a possible sleeper cell in LA; and get this - he is a practicing Muslim. I was a little skeptical at first, half-expecting some hero or the antagonist to spout maybe silly, gratuitous and mindless holier-than-thou fanatic drivels... let's face it, a lot of shows have been guilty of this.
But then I watched the first three episodes, and I thought: Okay, this is good. It wasn't until episode four ("Scholar") when I was well and truly impressed. I would like to commend on the great writing and also, superb performances from the actors. I just love how complex every one of these characters - they're not straight out two-dimensional cardboard cutout good guys/bad guys. Michael Ealy gives a wonderful and believable performance as the Muslim FBI agent Darwyn Al-Sayeed, treading the fine line between being the good Muslim and being a man with flaws. Oded Fehr gives his character Farik an interesting depth - Farik is not the typical oily Middle Eastern stereotype, but simply someone who truly believes in his cause and doesn't see himself as a fanatic but a man willing to do whatever extreme measures to justify his beliefs. He's very charismatic and authoritative. But I would say that it was Alex Nesic's performance that clearly left an impression in me in "Scholar". His portrayal of his character's emotional struggle was amazing - torn between the softly spoken words of a Muslim scholar encouraging him to return to the non-aggressive way because it is the only acceptable way in God's eye and Farik's persuasion to believe otherwise.
I'm looking forward to watch more shows like this, and not some ridiculously high-octane one man show series. It's clever and open-minded.
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