Review #2

SUPERNATURAL.
"The French Mistake"
Raphael launches an attack on Castiel and his allies, sending a particularly frightening angelic hitman after Balthazar, Sam and Dean. In an effort to protect the brothers, Balthazar sends them to an alternate universe where they are the stars of a TV show called "Supernatural" and they are actors named "Jensen Ackles" and "Jared Padalecki." The brothers are confused when Castiel appears to be a tweet-happy actor named Misha Collins and Sam is married to Ruby.

Latest episode was more like a circus - tweeting Misha Collins, and brothers Winchesters trying to play a role of - ACHTUNG! - Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles! No way this episode could be at least a little bit serious. Hell no! All time our guys were trying to perform performance of themselves (sorry for this mess, hehe). This episode had all the chances to become one of the best comedy episodes since "Changing Channels" but for some reason screenwriters decided to put all the SPN crew at one place - including Robert Singer and Eric Kripke (BTW, killed during episode by evil angel). So, this week - only 6/10.

SMALLVILLE.
"Fortune"
After Zatanna sends a magically spiked bottle of champagne to Clark and Lois for their bachelor/bachlorette parties, the gang blacks out after the toast, only to wake up the next morning and realize they can't remember anything about the night before. While trying to retrace their steps, Lois realizes she lost her engagement ring and drags Oliver back to the Fortune Casino where she thinks she lost it. The two run into Fortune, the eccentric casino owner, who accuses them of stealing money from him. Meanwhile, Clark tells Chloe he has a memory of stealing an armored truck the night before.

Same like "Supernatural" this week "Smallville" decided to play a fool as well. Drunk Clark & Co. with terrible hangover all over the team trying to solve what happened - is not what you're gonna waste your evening for. "Hangover meets Superman" idea wasn't realized in proper way. Screenplay is still terrible. At least, something in this world is stable for last three years. Anyway, despite weak season itself this episode seems to be one of the weakest this year. My rating - 4.5/10.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES.
"The House Guest"
Katherine's mind games are getting on everyone's nerves, but Damon, Stefan and Elena realize that her knowledge of Mystic Falls history will help them stay alive. Frustrated with her relationship with Matt, Caroline finds a new way to get his attention. Alaric makes a surprising confession to Jenna, and Katherine makes a different kind of confession to Damon. Stefan and Bonnie try to convince Jonas and Luka that they should all be working together, but Jonas' lack of trust leads to a violent and fiery confrontation.

Fresh episode of TVD is cool. As usual, should admit. You know, this show is unbelievable stable. Almost all of the episodes are full of drama, action and romance. Especially now, since Katherine left the tomb and Bonnie has relationships with Jeremy. But Luca and his father are trying to revive Elijah and all this idea goes bad for them. Seems like all the events in the show are just some sort of preparation for a thrilling cliffhanger in the season finale this May. Or the great Grand Finale, if CW will close the show. OK, let's cross our fingers for the 3rd Season! "The House Guest" rating is 8.7/10. Well done.

CASTLE.
"Setup"/"Countdown"
Castle and Beckett investigate the apparent robbery-homicide of a New York cab driver, only to discover that the victim was involved in a mysterious conspiracy with unimaginable consequences. As the stakes continue to rise, hard-charging federal agent Mark Fallon takes over the investigation. Together, Fallon, Beckett and Castle must race to unmask the truth about the victim before it's too late.
With time running out, Castle and Beckett must put aside their differences with Agent Fallon to avert a city-wide catastrophe.

This episode 3-16/3-17 cannot be reviewed as separate. They are not just linked - they are the one. Single story, single case. Same I remember were episodes 2-17/2-18 "Tick, tick, tick... Boom!", telling us one single story. This one seems to shake Castle and Beckett relationships a bit. Since very beginning of 3rd Season no develops were noticed between Castle and Beckett. Even their passionate kiss in 3-13 "Knockdown" was only a cover. But now, after they were so close to death they appear to understand that their feelings are not just friendship and sympathy. Twice along the episode Kate or Castle tried to say something to each other, but both times they did not succeed. BTW, Kate changed a lot since we first met her in Pilot. She became more sensual and passionate. Sure, Ric played his role in these changes.
But despite all this romance between main characters the problems became even more dangerous. Last minutes of 'Countdown' give us unbelievable stress and emotions while Ric and Kate are watching in each other's eyes prepared to die in dirty bomb explosion.
Unfortunately, spring hiatus awaiting us and fresh episode will be aired only on 21 March 2011. But this paired episode receives highest 10/10. Brilliant performance!

Review #1

"Supernatural"

 

Sixth season started awfully disappointing. First episodes were the worst ones since the show started in 2005. Later, some episodes gave us a lot of delightful moments but without Eric Kripke the show seems to be doomed. Though some certain moments were just brilliant (like that one with Cas watching porn). The latest episodes brought us back 'original' Sammy, though I cannot say that all the idea with 'bad' Sam was good, since Jared Padalecki simply overacting playing a 'bad guy'. Seems like the only role he plays well is 'a puppy-eyed Sammy' or something similar. But I should admit that watching 'Supernatural' is still interesting and exciting, especially if you're not trying to compare it with earlier seasons. My personal rating of last episodes - 6.5/10 (season premiere rating - 4/10)

"Smallville"

10th season seems to be not such a disaster as previous two. Though screenplay is still awful and she visual effects are even worse last season of 'Smallville' brought us back lots of familiar faces. For the old fans watching the show since distant 2001 it's like meeting an old friend. But previous seasons brought screenwriters to a hole they barely could escape. Their main problem was death of Lex Luthor, the most famous Superman's enemy. It's hard to understand what pushed them to such a decision. Sure, mostly that was decided due to Michael Rosenbaum left the show after season seven, but killing main enemy of Superman even before Clark Kent became Superman is bullshit. Being honest, "Smallville" finished with seventh season finale. All happened since 8th season looks more like some kind of fan fiction. But let's return to season 10. Last season. Screenwriters decided to return to the show everyone they could reach. Lionel is dead? Who cares! Let's get Lionel from another dimension. Jonathan is dead? No problem! Let's make a ghost. Lex is dead? Ha! Let's get his clones. Somebody may think it's a tribute to old seasons but as for me - it's an idea crisis. BTW, all that's going on in the show since Alfred Gough & Miles Miller left reminds direct-to-video sequel of original movie. And now Michael Rosenbaum confirmed his return to the show. I wonder if he'll be another clone or original Lex somehow survived the blast. Anyway, hope this show comes to a logic end, having certain relation to classic Superman movies. My personal rating of last episodes - 5.5/10 (season premiere rating - 5/10)  

"The Vampire Diaries"

 

One of the best TV show on CW nowadays. Certainly, TVD cannot escape comparison with 'Twilight saga', but in any relation TVD seems more realistic if this adjective can be used in relation of any kind of 'vampire story'. TVD uses tons of different vampire legends, laughing from another ones (garlic, holy water, mirrors, books of Stephany Meyer). BTW, comparing to so called 'saga' it's not enough to put your face to a bowl filled with flour to be a vampire. At least, Twilight's vampire makeup seems exactly like that. But the point of the show is not to be another vampire story made on the tide of Twilight popularity. In this show we have absolutely great performance of Nina Dobrev and  Ian Somerhalder. Comparing them with acting in "Twilight saga" will not be in saga's favor. But the best in this show is a dynamic story progressing from one episode to another, discovering new sides of already well-known characters. Latest two episodes of TVD brought us to absolutely new vision of Stephan and Damon, as well as gives us more development in Bonnie/Jeremy relationships. Also, more answers were given about The Originals, about werewolves and what's the hell is connecting Luca's father with Elijah. My personal rating of last episodes - 9.0/10 (season premiere rating - 8/10)  

"Castle"

What I like in this show - is everything. Charming Stana Katic and spectacular Nathan Fillion are doing the great show mixing humor and drama. But in the latest episodes "Castle" seems to grow up. Episodes became more dramatic, Ric is still joking but not as much as before while Beckett seems more worried than usually. Well, the problems they meet also much more complex than before. First Kate's mother's murder got new trails, than Castle's friend becomes a suspects, and then Beckett and Castle solve a murder leading straight to a terrorist cell and a dirty nuclear bomb in NY. The stress is growing and being closed in a fridge Castle and Beckett remain helpless and alone. All this seems to lead to a great new episode which we'll have to wait until next week. Damn! My personal rating of last episodes - 9.8/10 (season premiere rating - 8/10)

Dream Theater. "Inception" review.

 Every single movie with Leo shows how expanding is his charisma and talent. The best way to show it is "Inception". I've heard that "Inception" is something like "007 meets The Matrix". There's something in it. I'm sure it wasn't just me who wanted to see some cool stealth-action movie on a big screen as Kobb is really awesome with his suppressed semi-automatic. Though, it's not a point of this picture.

He could be a really nice Bond. James Bond.

There's lot from "Matrix" here, but "Matrix" was a clear cyber-punk while it's not everybody loves. "Inception" has much more deep structure. It's really amazing to see how human brain changes the material reality. Even knowing that this reality is just a dream - so what? When we sleep we don't usually realize it's a dream, do we?

Trailer showed us a city, rolling like it was a sandwich from McDonalds and some thought it's what the whole movie gonna look like. Hell no! They were disappointed as the were looking for a summer blockbuster in a wrong place - it wasn't "Prince of Persia" or "Transformers".

Gravity paradoxes are usual in dreams.

 

All this movie, though, cannot be treated as some kind of art. It's pure chemistry and maths as all the reagents are mixed in strict proportions, and only in the strictly stated time.