Tin Man (SyFy miniseries)

"You're a deep well, Glitch."
"It's all about rhythm."

DG (Deschanel) is discontent with life.  Her dreams predict a storm, and one arrives in the form of a tornado carrying Longcoat soldiers.  The tornado takes her to the O.Z.  She tries to find her parents, who she lost in the storm, and a way home.  To help navigate through the O.Z. she enlists the help of Glitch (Cummings) who has a zipper on his head and minimal memories.  Soon they are joined by former Tin Man Wyatt Cain (McDonough) who lost everything and Raw (Trujillo) a "viewer" who they rescue.  Together they seek the Mystic Man (Dreyfuss) to find answers.

Meanwhile, the ruler of the O.Z., Azkadellia (Robertson) the sorceress, is looking for her own answers.  She is trying to find the Emerald of the Eclipse.  She sends her Longcoats, led by Zero (Rennie), to track down and capture DG.  Can DG save the O.Z. and find her parents?


In 2007, SyFy channel took a break from it's usual monster movies to reimagine L.F. Baum's beloved book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" into a TV miniseries.  The book spawned numerous sequels about the land of Oz, its inhabitants, and Dorothy Gale, all written by Baum.  The original story was transformed into the iconic film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland in 1939.  The film is a popular musical that has been performed by numerous schools and theatre companies (during my sophomore year of high school, the soundtrack was our marching band show, and was also our spring musical... needless to say, I am quite familiar with the story and music of the film).  The story was continued in the 1985 film Return to Oz, an unofficial sequel to The Wizard of Oz, which takes storylines and characters from Baum's other Oz stories.

The story was reimagined into a Broadway show called The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz", in African American culture.  The show was a major hit, and was turned into a film, The Wiz, in 1978 starring Diana Ross.  The film was considered a failure, and significantly changed aspects of the show.

In 1995, the story of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was re-imagined by Gregory Maguire into the novel "Wicked," which focuses on the witches of Oz before Dorothy's arrival.  "Wicked" was so popular that it was reimagined into a successful Broadway musical, also called Wicked.  And apparently there are 2 new Wizard of Oz related projects - a live action film about the Wizard and a cartoon sequel to the Wizard of Oz - to be released in 2012-2013.

That being said, I think SyFy did ok... but there I have a few major issues with the series:
1) Azkadellia - From the beginning she is established as a strong, powerful woman, and pure evil (which several characters state during the film).  Kathleen Robertson is great in that role... why change the character?  She is more interesting when she is pure evil.  The personality change was a major disappointment.

2) Zooey Deschanel - Don't get me wrong... I love her quirky personality.  I watch her show, New Girl, and I have both of her "She & Him" albums.  That being said, I don't think this was the right part for her.  She is ok, but not great.

The series was interesting, an intriguing take on the story.  Check it out.

Tin Man (TV miniseries 2007) 270 minutes
Starring: Zooey Deschanel as DG
Alan Cumming as Glitch
Neal McDonough as Wyatt Cain
Kathleen Robertson as Azkadellia
Raoul Trujillo as Raw
Callum Keith Rennie as Zero
Richard Dreyfuss as Mystic Man
Blu Mankuma as Toto

21 Jump Street (2012)

"We're like, in the end of "Die Hard" right now, only it's our actual life!"

In high school Jenko (Tatum) was a popular jock who liked to torment Schmidt (Hill) a science nerd.  Years later, they are reunited in the police academy, where they become friends.  After graduating, they expect to become big-shot cops, but are assigned to bike patrol, where no one takes them seriously.  When they make a big arrest, but do not give Miranda rights, 

"Do you even know the Miranda rights?
"It obviously starts with... you have the right to... remain an attorney..."

"Did you just say you have the right to be an attorney?"

"Well, you do have the right to be an attorney if you want to..." 

they are reassigned to a special division on Jump Street.

The officers of Jump Street look young enough to pass as students, and are assigned to local schools.  Jenko and Schmidt are sent to a local high school to find the dealer and supplier of a new drug.  They live with Schmidt's parents and pose as brothers.

After mixing up their fake names, "Alright, which one of you is Doug? [no response] Alright, let's try that again and pretend you guys aren't weird," Jenko is placed in AP Chemistry and befriends the nerds, while Schmidt joins the drama club and hangs with the popular kids.  They soon learn that Eric Molson (Franco) and the popular kids are the dealers, but the identity of the supplier is unknown.


Attempting to turn beloved TV shows into movies is tricky...  How do you translate the characters and situations to film?  How do you present the story?  Do you bring back original cast members?  Do you update the story? Etc.  In the end, some work and others crash and burn.

The show 21 Jump Street ran for 5 seasons and launched Johnny Depp to stardom.  The writers of the film chose to pay homage to the show, by using the same setup: 21 Jump Street means the same thing, but updating the story and creating 2 new characters to lead the film.  They make references throughout the film to the 1980s original (in the film, the Jump Street program is revived from a 1980s undercover program, etc).  Also, most of the leads from the show have cameo appearances (I won't spoil them for you)... and the cast member that does not act in the film, still appears in a creative way.

Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill work well together.  Hill is known for his comedic chops and does not disappoint here... and Tatum is game for whatever is thrown his way.  James Franco's brother, Dave (Cole in the final season of Scrubs) works well in his well, and proves adept at comedy.  The cast is populated with big names in comedy, who do not disappoint.

The dialog is pretty raunchy and littered with expletives... most of which were not needed.  However, the film is fun, mindless entertainment.  And apparently they are planning to make a sequel...

21 Jump Street (2012) 109 minutes
Rated: R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, drug material, teen drinking and some violence.
Director: Phil Lord and Chris Miller
Starring: Channing Tatum as Jenko
Jonah Hill as Schmidt
Brie Larson as Molly Tracey
Dave Franco as Eric Molson
Rob Riggle as Mr. Walters
DeRay Davis as Domingo
Ice Cube as Captain Dickinson
Chris Parnell as Mr. Gordon
Ellie Kemper as Ms. Griggs

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

"History prefers legends to men. It prefers nobility to brutality, soaring speeches to wild deeds. History remembers the battle, but forgets the blood. However history remembers me before I was a President, it shall only remember a fraction of the truth..."

When his mother is killed by a vampire, Abraham Lincoln (Walker) vows revenge.  Ten years later, as an adult, he meets Henry Sturgess (Cooper) who teaches Abe how to successfully defeat vampires.  After learning all Henry can teach him, Abe leaves home to start his war against vampires.

He settles in Springfield, working as a clerk for Joshua Speed (Simpson) by day, and destroying the vampires on Henry's list by night.  In Springfield, he reconnects with childhood friend Will (Mackie), and falls in love with headstrong Mary Todd (Winstead).  Soon news of his exploits reaches head vampire Adam (Sewell) and his sister Vadoma (Erin Wasson).  Can he stop the vampires and keep his friends safe?


In 2009 Seth Grahame-Smith wrote a novel mash-up of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and the zombie genre in the successful "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."  A year later he wrote another mash-up called "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter," which was again met with success.

I read and enjoyed the story ("Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" was better, but I love "Pride and Prejudice")... it was interesting and didn't take itself too seriously.  When I learned the story was being adapted for film, with Grahame-Smith writing the screenplay.  The film plot was similar to the book, but they changed some important details, which changed the story.  It worked, but I missed some of the aspects that were removed.  The biggest / most noticeable  difference is the ending... I like the end of the book (don't worry, I won't ruin it for you), but the movie did something different.  Their ending works, but I missed the book ending.

If you go into the film expecting a mindless action flick where Abe Lincoln kills vampires, then you won't be disappointed.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) 105 minutes
Rating: R for violence throughout and brief sexuality
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: Benjamin Walker as Abraham Lincoln
Dominic Cooper as Henry Sturgess
Anthony Mackie as Will Johnson
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Mary Todd Lincoln
Rufus Sewell as Adam
Marton Csokas as Jack Barts
Jimmi Simpson as Joshua Speed

Alice (SyFy miniseries)

"You wouldn't have come!"
"You're damn right I wouldn't! He almost killed me!"
"Yeah, well he actually shot me!"

When her boyfriend Jack (Winchester) is kidnapped, Alice (Scorsone) enters Wonderland to rescue him.  When she arrives in Wonderland, a tattoo of an oyster appears on her arm and she is captured.  She manages to escape, and is taken to Hatter (Potts), who agrees to help her return to her world.  But she refuses to go without Jack.

Hatter takes her to see Dodo (Tim Curry), the leader of the resistance, who is reluctant to help, until he sees the ring Jack gave to Alice.  The ring is the Stone of Wonderland, which opens the portal between the human world and Wonderland.  When Dodo tries to take the ring, Alice and Hatter escape and eventually team up with the last White Knight (Frewer), named Charlie.

Meanwhile, the Queen of Hearts (Bates) is furious that the Stone of Wonderland is missing.  Her minions, the White Rabbits, use the Stone to travel into the human world to kidnap Oysters to drain their emotions and keep the people of Wonderland under the Queen's control.  To get the Stone back, she dispatches her favorite assassin, Mad March (Redknap), to bring Alice back to the palace.


Beginning in 2007, SyFy revamped classic children's literature with a re-imagining of  The Wizard of Oz.  After the series was met with success, they tried it again in 2009 with Alice in Wonderland.  The plot is not the same as the original story or serving as a sequel to the original... it stands alone, with many of the same characters.  This Alice, played by Caterina Scorsone of TV's "Private Practice," is a modern girl that ends up in Wonderland by mistake.  It is an interesting take on a classic and oft-told tale.

The cast is great.  I was not familiar with Andrew Lee Potts before this series,  but I would like to look into more of his work.  It was fun to see Matt Frewer, who I love as Taggart on SyFy's TV show "Eureka," in this role.  He gets some great moments, especially towards the end, when he and the other White Knights take on the Queen's forces.  Kathy Bates is great, as usual, as the main antagonist.  Everything works, except some of the effects (like the Jabberwocky), but it doesn't take away from the story.  It works well as a miniseries, instead of attempting to jam everything into a single story.

Don't let the fact that it is a SyFy miniseries / movie... it is well done and entertaining (for the right reasons).  This is my favorite, so far, of the SyFy miniseries / reimagining of classic... which could be because I love Alice in Wonderland.  The series occasionally plays on the SyFy network and is available to rent from Netflix.  It is worth looking into.

Alice (TV mini-series 2009) 240 minutes
Caterina Scorsone as Alice
Andrew Lee Potts as Hatter
Matt Frewer as White Knight
Philip Winchester as Jack
Timothy Webber as Carpenter
Zak Santiago as 10 of Clubs
Charlotte Sullivan as Duchess
Kathy Bates as Queen of Hearts
Colm Meaney as King of Hearts
Eugene Lipinski as Doctors Dee & Dum
Geoff Redknap as Mad March

Brave (2012)

"If you had a chance to change your fate, would you?"

Princess Merida (Macdonald) is a skilled archer, who is happiest with a bow in her hands and the wind in her face.  However, her mother, Queen Elinor (Thompson), has other plans... which involve turning her unruly daughter into a lady / future queen.  Their country is comprised of 4 clans: Merida's father King Fergus (Connolly), Lord MacGuffin (McKidd), Lord Dingwall (Coltrane), and Lord Macintosh (Ferguson).  The other three clans are on hand to compete in the Highland Games, with the first-born of each clan competing for Merida's hand.

However, she is not impressed with her suitors: Young MacGuffin (McKidd) who no one understands, Wee Dingwall (O'Neill) who has no discernible fighting skills, and the vain Young Macintosh (Cree).  To win her hand, the 3 have to compete in an archery competition.  She manages to out-shoot her competitors and upset her mother.  With her future spinning out of control, Merida rides away and seeks the help of the Witch (Walters) to change her fate.


I was very excited about this film... Pixar has yet to disappoint me (*I did not watch Cars 2 and have no plans to do so), and I wanted to see their take on the princess genre, which Disney has done so well.  Verditct: it's a well-made, entertaining film that renews my faith in Pixar.

The story was not what I was expecting... I did not read any spoilers, but based on the previews I thought I knew what was coming, and I was wrong.  It is an entertaining story, focusing on the relationship between mothers and daughters... and appropriately enough, I took my mother to see the film.  The characters look great, love the music, and the characters were entertaining.  I loved the different characters, specifically the antics of Merida's little brothers and her father.  Kelly Macdonald brings a spunky energy to Merida, which works well with her physical appearance.  Her red hair is wild and untamed and takes on a life of its own.

Sure, it may not be the greatest Pixar movie ever or breaking new ground (like other Pixar films), but it is still an enjoyable film that will please all ages.

Brave (2012) 100 minutes
Director: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, & Steve Purcell
Starring: Kelly Macdonald as Merida
Billy Connolly as King Fergus
Emma Thompson as Queen Elinor
Julie Walters as The Witch
Robbie Coltrane as Lord Dingwall
Kevin McKidd as Lord MacGuffin / Young MacGuffin
Craig Ferguson as Lord Macintosh
Steven Cree as Young Macintosh
Steve Purcell as The Crow
Callum O'Neill as Wee Dingwall

The Vow

"Life's all about moments, of impact and how they changes our lives forever. But what if one day you could no longer remember any of them?"

Leo (Tatum) and Paige (McAdams) are happily married newlyweds.  They are involved in a car accident and Paige is in a coma.  When she wakes, she has no memory of the last 3 years, and does not recognize Leo.  While he is still madly in love with her, she sees him as a stranger.

The doctor (Crewson) suggests taking her home and keeping a regular schedule.  While Leo and their friends try to make her feel comfortable, she seeks the comfort of her family... who she has not seen for 3 years.  She moves into her parents, Bill (Neill) and Rita (Lange), home and renews relationships with people from her past, including her ex-fiance Jeremy (Speedman).  Meanwhile, Leo decides to try and win her back... will she regain her memories and does she even want to?


The Vow is one of those movies that looks good and you hear is good, but somehow falls short of what you ultimately expect.  The plot is based on the true story of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, who wrote a book about their experience (also called The Vow).  The book focuses on the Carpenter's faith, which helped their marriage work.  The film removes any reference to faith... which upset fans of the book and the Carpenter's.

The film still works as a chick-flick / date night movie.  It is an emotional movie (bring the tissues), and Channing Tatum is shirtless for several scenes (bonus!).  Check it out, but don't expect a carbon-copy of the Carpenter's story.

The Vow (2012) 104 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for an accident scene, sexual content, partial nudity and some language
Director: Michael Sucsy
Starring: Channing Tatum as Leo
Rachel McAdams as Paige
Jessica Lange as Rita Thorton
Sam Neill as Bill Thorton
Jessica McNamee as Gwen
Wendy Crewson as Dr. Fishman
Tatiana Maslany as Lily
Lucas Bryant as Kyle
Scott Speedman as Jeremy