TV/Trailer Park Speculations
Friday, May 20th, 2011 12:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
retsukoOn TV, last night was the season finale of The Office, accompanied by the very strong rumor that Catherine Tate will step into the Crazy Boss role that Steve Carrell vacated. This is exceedingly good news because it means that I might just keep on watching the show next season, and not give up as I'd planned. (The promised performance by Jim Carrey was mercifully brief, and I admit I exhaled a little when we realized he wouldn't be around more than his one scene. That guy is comedy poison.) Although CT's appearance was short, she was very funny in the role of "Uber-Boss's seriously say-anything crazy best friend" and I think her presence could be a real plus. The rest of the episode... well, it was sort of meh. After dangling a possible resolution of the will-they-or-won't-they Erin and Andy love match, the writers wimped out, big time, and I cannot see why, unless they plan to drag it out over the next season, too. And that's getting seriously annoying. There's no reason (now that Gabe's gone, and good riddance to that wet blanket) that they can't get together other than... Andy's milquetoast tendencies? Seriously? I mean, I know that people often sabotage things that are good for them, but this is getting ridiculous.
Other than that, I was pretty entertained at Dwight's sudden resolve to interview for the job again (James Spader's eyes are like those squeezy alien pop toys you can buy in tourist traps, and it's WEIRD), and mildly amused at Angela's excitement over what was an obviously fake marriage proposal. Darryl's consternation over what a resume was... it was sort of oddly touching, as was his ham-handed attempt to sympathize his way into the boss position. But overall, it's going to take a lot to bring back the "good old days" of the show that I adore, and this finale didn't bode well for that.
I should say that the best moment of comedy last night came from Pam, who was trying different accents on the phone to stop temporary boss Creed from running Dunder-Mifflin into the ground. This short scene that ran with the credits was delightfully silly and over the top, and it made long for times when the rest of the series was that way, too.
In the trailer park department: the trailer for the Tintin movie is here. And...argh. I have many, many mixed feelings about this endeavor. The Tintin books, after the Sunday funnies, were my introduction to comics and despite their multitude of failings, I have a strong loyalty to them. And I know that the script was in good hands (Moffat had his paws on it), and that the plotline of The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure will make for a good story (they're probably the most accessible of the series as a whole, what with the secret scrolls in the masts, spies, underwater treasure, and almost all of the beloved characters appearing in one place.) Also, Steven Spielberg, although his involvement isn't necessarily a mark of absolute quality anymore. But... there's something strange about the trailer and the project that worries me. The whole thing is CG, and while the characters look like themselves... that's weird in and of itself; Tintin comics are supposed to be flat and two-dimensional, but the movie shouldn't look like that. (Or have 3D pasted on.) I fear the movie will also bring Herge's narrative troubles to the fore: the racism/colonialism in the art and plots, and the utter lack of female characters other than Bianca Castafiore (who, admittedly, is a majorly entertaining character), and these in turn will overshadow the tremendous beauty and ingenuity in Herge's design and illustration. And it's this last point that makes me the saddest. Herge was an accomplished and talented artist, and even with all the good intentions in the world, you can't bring this aspect to the screen if you're adding adventure/3D/SFX extravaganza! to the proceedings. Just... argh. I want to be excited, I really do. But this is too easy to screw up, and the screw up vibe is hovering around this trailer in a way that's far too close for comfort.
Other than that, I was pretty entertained at Dwight's sudden resolve to interview for the job again (James Spader's eyes are like those squeezy alien pop toys you can buy in tourist traps, and it's WEIRD), and mildly amused at Angela's excitement over what was an obviously fake marriage proposal. Darryl's consternation over what a resume was... it was sort of oddly touching, as was his ham-handed attempt to sympathize his way into the boss position. But overall, it's going to take a lot to bring back the "good old days" of the show that I adore, and this finale didn't bode well for that.
I should say that the best moment of comedy last night came from Pam, who was trying different accents on the phone to stop temporary boss Creed from running Dunder-Mifflin into the ground. This short scene that ran with the credits was delightfully silly and over the top, and it made long for times when the rest of the series was that way, too.
In the trailer park department: the trailer for the Tintin movie is here. And...argh. I have many, many mixed feelings about this endeavor. The Tintin books, after the Sunday funnies, were my introduction to comics and despite their multitude of failings, I have a strong loyalty to them. And I know that the script was in good hands (Moffat had his paws on it), and that the plotline of The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure will make for a good story (they're probably the most accessible of the series as a whole, what with the secret scrolls in the masts, spies, underwater treasure, and almost all of the beloved characters appearing in one place.) Also, Steven Spielberg, although his involvement isn't necessarily a mark of absolute quality anymore. But... there's something strange about the trailer and the project that worries me. The whole thing is CG, and while the characters look like themselves... that's weird in and of itself; Tintin comics are supposed to be flat and two-dimensional, but the movie shouldn't look like that. (Or have 3D pasted on.) I fear the movie will also bring Herge's narrative troubles to the fore: the racism/colonialism in the art and plots, and the utter lack of female characters other than Bianca Castafiore (who, admittedly, is a majorly entertaining character), and these in turn will overshadow the tremendous beauty and ingenuity in Herge's design and illustration. And it's this last point that makes me the saddest. Herge was an accomplished and talented artist, and even with all the good intentions in the world, you can't bring this aspect to the screen if you're adding adventure/3D/SFX extravaganza! to the proceedings. Just... argh. I want to be excited, I really do. But this is too easy to screw up, and the screw up vibe is hovering around this trailer in a way that's far too close for comfort.
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