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Reviews
Freaks and Geeks (1999)
One of the few gems in network TV
Of all the shows I have ever seen, none have stuck with me quite like Freaks and Geeks has. To put it simply, the show was brilliant. Too bad it had to be canceled. The writing and acting was superb, I don't think anyone can say that they didn't fall in love with the characters. I mean come on, Bill? The stories each were well made and I found myself already anticipating the next episode. Kudos to Paul Feig. The story is centered around the two children of a middle class family as they grow and evolve in high school. There is the older daughter, Lindsey, a book smart, goody-goody, looking for approval and acceptance from the stoners AKA the freaks. Then there is the younger son, Sam, who is the stereotypical nerd of the early 80's. He is constantly in conflict between the popularity aspect versus his friends, the geeks. Over the 18 episode first and only season, the characters undergo many changes that almost any person can relate to somewhat in their high school years. The entire series is all about the self discovery of these two kids and their friends as they venture through high school and in my mind was too good for TV. If only HBO had gotten to it... Oh well... I do highly recommend buying the DVD because this show was beyond words in the excellence it displayed, thank you for one of the best years of television Paul Feig!
Remember the Titans (2000)
More than just a movie about sports
This movie is so good on so many levels. The acting is superb by both Denzel Washington (as Coach Herman Boone) and Will Patton (as Coach Bill Yoast). The movie focuses around the football team of a recently integrated high school in racist Virginia of the 70's. The team battles the heavy racism of the town and overcomes with a spirit that brings the entire town together.
The film features more than just the story of a team winning it all with some sort of magical happening as many other sports movies are. This film shows a group of teenagers who can overcome the racism that lives relentlessly in their lives and go on to turn it around and bring the entire town together. The differences between all of the boys on the team are set aside as they instead come together in a way that allows for them to go all the way and win in the face of racism.
I highly recommend everyone to see this movie, not because it is just a good movie about football, but because it is a good movie about settling your differences with others. The movie reminded me much of the story of the US hockey team (which was recently made into a film too, also by Disney entitled Miracle). It is a timeless movie that I can still watch and enjoy.
Mystery Men (1999)
Satire that never got the look it needed...
This movie was completely underrated, it is quite good if you realize what it really is, a satire. The whole movie makes many great satirical or spoofs of superhero movies. Look at the city's name, Champion City, classical superhero setting with a classical superhero (a joking combination of Batman and Superman ideas) Captain Amazing (how can anyone take that seriously?). Then they go on to show the second string superheroes like the Shoveler and the Blue Raja. But the real joke is their obsession with the superhero genre. For example when fighting a gang of Disco guys, William H. Macy (A God among men) even says to the one toting a pipe as a weapon "What are you supposed to be, the Disco Plumber?". The entire idea is summed up with the recruiting party. The whole movie just runs with the idea of how much fun can be poked at superhero movies... Even the super villain is an obvious joke, his name is Casanova Frankenstein. I would recommend watching it, not because it is a good movie with a good plot, but because it makes fun of good movies with good plots and that makes it funny...
Jack & Bobby (2004)
A great show about Greatness
On the Sunday it premiered on the WB I think I heard the ad for it about 4 times on the radio in my half hour of total driving and decided that the plot sounded unique and was worth wasting an hour of time not doing homework. After watching the first episode, I found myself amazed at the unique style in which the pilot was done with no truly telling the truth of which brother becomes president and in how the idea switches back and forth throughout the show. But what makes the show so good is it's big underlying question, What is the next great president/world leader like today, as a kid growing up? (Is it that geek that played D&D or the cool jock who still did all that community service?) This ever present idea that one of these two very unique and powerful brothers will soon be this mythical leader "The Great Believer" is inspiring and truthful.
Now after having watched the fifth episode, I find myself wanting to see the next right away. Each episode deals with a sort of theme or tying events between the two brothers. But the true power of the show is the chemistry of all the main characters and how they are portrayed. Matt Long is brilliant as Jack, the strong cool brother who still learns from Bobby (like when he helps his friend out by taking his job). Logan Lerman is superb as Bobby, the doesn't give a hoot what everyone else thinks kid who looks up to his brother and shows the ever amazing ideas that inspire to be more (like trying to start the space club with no support until Courtney becomes his ally). Christine Lahti is out of this world as Grace the mom, nothing needs to be said about how good a job she does. The rest of the cast is amazing in the support of this family. Their on screen chemistry takes the show by storm as every scene is good and the already well written plot is only amplified by the well done acting. Already given a second season, I hope to see this show go for a while. Please WB don't give up on this, it's just too good...