TeleChimp | TV Journalism

Film “The Dark Knight Rises” has been so impatiently looked forward to launch and has such a massive advertising and publicity spending budget that it is specified to be a hit. Most critics careful of their backside — or, certainly, their methodologies — will compliment it to the proverbial heavens (skies).

The Dark Knight, the 2nd in the recommended director’s threesome, was a huge hit each critically and at box office.

Movie Review The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Starting up some 8 years right after the earlier hit movies, Rises unveils that Batman has since vanished from Gotham’s avenues as Harvey Dent’s apparent martyrdom has motivated Gotham by itself to clean up its act, as was thought out. Feeling no more required by his town, Bruce Wayne now lives as a rotting solitaire in the fresh reconstructed Bruce Wayne Manor, although Jim Gordon, Batman’s co-conspirator in the Harvey Dent cover-up, is now a solitary, his ex-wife taken the children and run right after the events of the former movie. The weight of their lies has brought their toll on the two men, but both trust in the strength of that lie to perform much more great than damage for the residents of Gotham.

High of what takes place in the movie goes all over each of these men looking for their payoff from lies and jeopardises that they made, and both men also search for a refurbished perception of objective. The movie also comes back to inquiries and expands on a lot of topics researched in the former movies, such as worry, order and disorder, wish, and payoff.

Movie “The Dark Knight Rises” arrives extremely nearby to accomplishing the same degree of success thanks to mindful planning, some really strong performances from the entire actors in performance, and some amazing action series spread all over that continue to keep viewers excitement heading and interest span targeted.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Pop culture in recent years has been overrun by zombies, vampires and other odds and ends of the supernatural world, so it makes sense that werewolves would be the next big thing. The popularity of the werewolf characters starring the Twilight films had already set the trend so a full fledged werewolf show was only a matter of time.

2011: Teen Wolf Premieres on MTV

MTV looks to be getting ahead of the curve by turning to a franchise that’s more than 25 years old: “Teen Wolf.”

The 2011 series, which premiered its second season on June 3 2012, focuses on a high school student named Scott (Tyler Posey) who transforms into a werewolf and whose best friend is named Stiles (Dylan O’Brien). Beyond that, any similarities between this show and the 1985 Michael J. Fox movie simply don’t exist.

Teen Wolf Vs Teen Wolf: Through the Decades

Instead of basketball, Scott plays lacrosse. His rival (Colton Haynes as Jackson Whittemore) is a teammate, not an opponent. Rather than working at a family-owned hardware store, he works at an animal clinic (ironical, the guy turning into a werewolf works at an animal clinic). And sadly, there is not a single character named “Boof” anywhere to be seen.

The second season of the MTV show teen wolf will continue where the first one left off, as Scott deals with all the usual teenage issues: growing up, love life, a girlfriend with hostile parents, lycanthropy.

The most drastic difference, though, is in how Scott becomes a werewolf in the first place. In the movie, it was hereditary. His father was a werewolf, and it struck Scott as he came of age, turning the entire story into a metaphor for teenage maturation and transformation. Plus, having family in the same situation offered a safe guide for the changes Scott was going through.

In the MTV series, Scott’s family has nothing to do with it. He’s bitten out in the woods by another werewolf; basically, he’s the victim of an attack. Plus, the werewolf who bites Scott, knows that there are hunters trying to track down the werewolves (sorry, lycanthropes, because every teenager knows that word), so he’s effectively turned Scott’s life into one of continuous threats. To make matters worse, he finds out that his love interest Allison Argent belongs to the family of hunters, although she herself doesn’t know that for most of the first season.

Of pretty faces with little talent, continuity errors and an absent-minded script

The cast is filled with very pretty people who aren’t very good actors, and don’t even bother to count how many times they came up with an excuse for Scott to be shirtless.) Every plot twist is telegraphed, and there is an annoying lack of attention to detail in the script. It’s California in August or September, but students wear winter coats and hats to watch lacrosse practice? It’s the first day of school, but a teacher’s lesson starts on page 133? (Interestingly, the book the class is starting on is Kafka’s “Metamorphosis.” Plus one for cleverness.)

The flaws notwithstanding, the show managed to find an audience in its first season, and could even lead the next big trend in popular culture monster-dom in the days to come.

The biggest gripe that viewers old enough to remember the original movie have is not that MTV came out with a werewolf show—that had to come sooner or later or one channel or the other—but that they had to choose the title “Teen Wolf”, fearfully generic as it is apart from sharing the title with a well-loved ’80s comedy. The logic behind the decision defies comprehension as the younger crowd that MTV targeted with the show didn’t have any association whatsoever with the movie.

Teen Wolf Seasons One & Two

Season one showed Scott fighting against the alpha werewolf who originally turned him (into a beta), and wanted to kill Allison’s family for revenge (long story people, check out the series). This had him team up with another beta werewolf Derek Hale who’s born with the lycanthropy and helps Scott learn to control the turning process, and who was originally suspected of turning Scott. It all ends with Derek killing the alpha with Scott’s help and becoming the alpha himself. The season ended with Jackson arriving at Derek’s abode and begging to be turned. It is not revealed if Derek grants his request or kills him.

Season two picks up almost immediately where season one ended, with Jackson shown emerging from a lake, with a visible bite mark in his side. Evidently, he has survived the bite and has turned too. This season reportedly deals with a new monster in town, one which is killing viciously and rather indiscriminately. Pre-season trailers have Stiles describing it as the ‘abomination’, and the season promises to reveal more in due time. Another story arc is Scott’s continued romance with Allison, who loves him in spite of his curse and her father’s violent disapproval. Speaking of which, the hunters should come back with a vengeance, seeing as how one of their own was brutally (albeit deservingly) slaughtered by the alpha. It is also suggested that Derek goes on a recruitment drive of sorts, turning willing teenagers so they can join his ‘pack’.

The second season is already two episodes old, and this TV journalism blog will be back with more reviews when the story has built up sufficiently to be commented upon. Until then, stay tuned!

Popularity: 1% [?]

American Idol

“It’s not my fault. It’s gonna be dramatic.”

With these words Ryan Seacrest offered last night’s viewers the turn down before they lay down to watch “American Idol.” This was the night when 11 singers would be sent down the laundry chute of the Hotel California, never to return.

What did return was the excellent, measured unpleasantness of Jimmy Iovine. The Interscope producer who would again be mentoring the finalists, was harsh about Chase Likens, for example, suggesting he was the apogee of country yawn.

On the other hand, he declared he would sign Phillips Phillips (and Jessica Sanchez) right here, right now. Some might wonder, naturally, why he hadn’t already.

With a little populist justice, Phillips was the first to be told he was in the Top 10. The judges were each allowed a wild card after the people’s vote, meaning that this year the number of finalists would be a very fortunate 13.

As the results separated the wheat from the alleged riff-raff, there was Sanchez. There, too, was Heejun Han. Han confuses Iovine because, well, stars aren’t supposed to have a sarcastic sense of humor.

“This isn’t ‘American Comedian.’ This is ‘American Idol,’” sniffed Iovine, with abject self-importance. Stars are supposed to do what they’re told by producers, you see.

As Seacrest called singers up in threes or fours to tell them of their fate, Iovine kept chipping in with apposite (and recorded) spit. Chelsea Sorrell he judged to be “Carrie Underwood karaoke.” And this of Reed Grimm: “Way too kitschy. Way too cabaret.” Of Aaron Marcellus: “A bit cheesy. A bit Don Cheadle.” Of Creighton Fraker: “Judges loved him. I didn’t.”

Jennifer Lopez declared that Iovine should come to the show, rather than sit in a little room. She also said she wanted to punch him. On Wednesday night, punching was a gesture of Lopez’s affection. Last night, it was a gesture of frustration after being shown up by someone who dared to say what he really thought, instead of offering motherly soft-soapings.

Indeed, Iovine’s judgments showed a very fine sense of what the little girl voters really like, for he didn’t seem to be too wrong about anyone who was voted into the Top 10.

Yes, even Jermaine Jones. Jones had originally been voted off and some might suspect he was now in the Top 10 as some sort of sympathy exercise. But there he was. And Deandre Brackensick, with the Milli Vanilli hair and soprano throat, was not.

Oddly, when Jones was announced as a Top 10-er, Lopez sat rigid, refusing to applaud. Was it because of sympathy for 15-year-old Eben Franckewitz, who had not made it? Or might she have been miffed that Jones had returned from the dead?

Then we had the drama. Yes, the sing-off, a vehicle that “The X Factor” had tried to exploit for, well, drama.

Six singers were chosen by the judges, from whom each judge would pick one. This was slightly sad. Clearly, Iovine has better judgment of popular taste than these three. Instead, the choices would all be theirs.

Jen Hirsh sang “Oh, Darling”, which began unsteadily, but ended strongly. “I love it when it ends up like you just did,” said Steven Tyler.

Jeremy Rosado offered a little Carrie Underwood. One could tell that the audience was immediately engaged, as Rosado let his vocal bodice rip, bared his feelings and, at the end, wept like a forlorn lover tossed to the winds. Lopez herself sobbed like Kate Winslet’s older sister.

Next was Brielle Von Hugel. “You guys don’t understand that this is my life,” carped the vast ego with the stage mamma from the rougher side of purgatory.

Iovine had earlier admonished all the singers who had chosen Adele songs. Von Hugel offered another Adele song – “Someone Like You.” This, sadly, resembled vodka-laced karaoke at 2 a.m. in some forgotten college bar in Cleveland.

“You were a little pitchy in some spots,” said Tyler, politely. If Tyler bothers to criticize, you are so very long gone.

Brackensick was next with “Georgia on My Mind.” Shedding his hair all over the floor seemed to be on his mind too. He gave his performance so many touches, so many nuances that it was as if Teddy Pendegrass and Klaus Nomi had suddenly returned to earth and inhabited the same body.

Erika Van Pelt, given another chance, channeled a little Lady Gaga. She sang that she was on the edge of glory. More accurately, she was on the edge of obscurity, but her voice attempted to claw her back up the cliff, even though no one was holding a hand out to help. Tyler declared it “out of the park.”

Last was the allegedly kitschy Reed Grimm. He took off one shirt, he crawled all over the floor, he rapped, he scatted – all while attempting to perform Bill Withers’ “Use Me.” The judges couldn’t, even though Jackson elegantly called him “one of the most different artists” the show had ever seen.

Jackson chose Van Pelt. Lopez chose Rosado, who hugged her like she was his long-lost auntie. Tyler selected Brackensick, whom Tyler could have mistaken for a girl. Amid all this stunning excitement, one thing became clear: America suddenly had no interest in another country boy singer to follow Scotty McCreery.

Next week, the contestants will honor Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston, as the roller coaster begins to pick up speed down a steep incline. It will be dramatic. And none of it will be Ryan Seacrest’s fault.

THE TOP 13 AMERICAN IDOL: 

 Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez, Hollie Cavanagh, Joshua Ledet, Heejun Han, Shannon Magrane, Skylar Laine, Elise Testone, Colton Dixon, Jermaine Jones, Deandre Brackensick, Erika Van Pelt, Jeremy Rosado.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Robert Downey Jr is currently carrying two movie franchises – the Marvel Iron Man proto-Avengers thing for Paramount and the brawling steampunk Sherlock Holmes series for Warner Brothers – so it is perhaps understandable that he is showing a touch of fatigue.

In the new Holmes adventure, A Game of Shadows, his imperiousness is hard to distinguish from boredom, and he seems to be in a hurry to spit out his lines, take his lumps, throw his punches and collect his paycheck.

Can a movie be hyperactive and lazy at the same time? Clever and idiotic? If the director is Guy Ritchie, the questions answer themselves.

Sherlock Holmes

Like its predecessor Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows confects a smoky, overcast Victorian world, infuses it with an air of jocular, hairy laddishness and stages a lot of fights in fussy and tiresome slow motion. There is a plot, but no real intrigue, mystery or suspense, and no inkling of anything at stake beyond a childish and belligerent idea of fun.

What a shame. Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective, with his violin, his deerstalker and his steel-trap mind, has been one of the most resilient and adaptable figures in Anglophone popular culture. He has been updated, travestied and conscripted into preposterous tales so many times – including by Doyle himself – that it is silly to hold his character sacred, or to scold Mr. Ritchie for taking liberties. But you would think that a man of such reputed brilliance and erudition (I’m talking about Holmes) would at least know how to pronounce the word “heinous” or use “crescendo” properly in a sentence. And you would think that a brewing showdown between Holmes and his nemesis, Moriarty (Jared Harris), would involve intrigue, suspense and devilish plots and counterplots.

Not that thinking is in any way relevant. There are a few dabs of sophistication – the witty, Russell presence of Stephen Fry as Microsoft Holmes, Sherlock’s brother; a disquisition on Schubert’s great lieder and a morsel of Mozart’s Don Giovanni – but these feel random and perfunctory.

The real point of the movie is the bantering byplay between Holmes and Watson (Jude Law) punctuated by punches, explosions and action sequences as bloated and pretentious as a 10-minute drum solo on a live album by a second-rate art-rock band from the ’70s.

Rachel McAdams bustles through the action in a bustle; Noomi Rapace lingers a bit longer in long tresses and Gypsy garb. There is not enough of Eddie Marsan and just enough of Mr. Harris, sneering through a ginger beard, to make you root for the Napoleon of Crime against the foppish fool from Baker Street. Who is oddly mopey this time out, as if needing to reassure us of his sensitive, vulnerable side.

Poor Sherlock. He is so desperate for attention, so needy – perhaps because of the competition from the likes of Tom Cruise and Tintin – that you are likely to reach the point of exasperation long before Watson does.

Popularity: 1% [?]

For our American viewers who might not be familiar with the character and the adventures of Tintin, here is a small preview of who exactly is Tintin. A plucky journalist-adventurer whose stories have sold over 350 million books worldwide, After rocking the comic book world Tintin has finally got his own big-budget Hollywood movie. The Adventures of Tintin is already a great hit in Europe, where it opened in late October and where the character has the most fan following. While most Americans have never heard of Tintin, it will be insane to say that they are unfamiliar with the name of Steven Spielberg.

Now let’s talk about the movie The Adventures of Tintin, The film is set in the early-middle 20th century in an unnamed European town. His spiked hair cut and chubby face makes him look no older than 16. The titular Tintin (Jamie Bell) is already a respected newspaper reporter and a neighborhood celebrity. He also lives alone and owns a handgun. In this movie The Adventures of Tintin, the chance purchase of a model boat leads him to a mystery involving a treasure-laden ship that was lost at sea over three centuries ago. Together with his trusty dog Snowy and a drunken sea captain named Haddock (Andy Serkis), he sets off on a across the globe adventure that puts him against a despicable figure named Sakharine (Daniel Craig).

The Adventures of Tintin is cutting-edge film making with an old-fashioned culture. Spielberg as always has done a marvelous job with his evolution to animation, the unstoppable march of technology and the constant bar-raising of the 3D-animated genre has schooled us to expect dazzling color and detail, and Tintin dutifully delivers on that front, but what’s more impressive is the cinematography, which is astonishing.
Tintin, a young journalist, and his dog Snowy, are browsing in an outdoor market in a European town. Tintin buys a model of a three-masted sailing ship, the Unicorn, for a good price, but is then immediately accosted by the sinister Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine, and the mysterious figure of Barnaby, who both try to buy the model from Tintin, without success. Tintin takes the ship home, but it is broken during a fight between Snowy and a neighbor’s cat. As it breaks, a parchment scroll slips out of the ship’s mast. Snowy spots it but is unable to alert Tintin. Meanwhile, incompetent detectives Thomson and Thompson are on the trail of a pickpocket, Aristides Silk. Tintin visits Sakharine in Marlinspike Hall, where he learns that there are at least two model ships.
Later, Tintin is shot at, then abducted by accomplices of Sakharine, and imprisoned on the SS Karaboudjan. On board, Tintin escapes and meets the ship’s nominal captain, Haddock. Haddock has been supplied with whisky by first mate Allan, who is working for Sakharine, and the captain is permanently drunk, and doesn’t know what’s happening on board his ship. Tintin and Haddock (and Snowy) eventually escape from the Karaboudjan in a lifeboat. Sakharine sends a seaplane to find them, but Tintin is able to capture the plane, and fly towards the (fictitious) Moroccan port of Bagghar, but they crash in the desert.
Dehydrated in the heat, and suffering from a sudden lack of alcohol, Haddock hallucinates, and starts to remember stories about his ancestor, Sir Francis Haddock(e), who was captain of the Unicorn during the 17th century. Sir Francis’ treasure-laden ship was attacked by a pirate ship, led by the masked Red Rackham, and, after a fierce battle and eventual surrender, Sir Francis chose to sink the Unicorn, and most of the treasure, rather than allow it to fall into Jackhammer hands. It transpires that there were three models of the Unicorn, each containing a scroll. Together, the scrolls will reveal the location of the sunken Unicorn, and its treasure.
In Bagghar, Tintin and the Captain find out that the third model ship is in the possession of the wealthy Omar Ben Salaad, but it is encased in a bullet-proof glass display case. Sakharine’s plan is to stage a concert involving famous diva Bianca Castafiore, the “Milanese nightingale”, whose penetrating singing voice will be able to shatter the glass case, allowing Sakharine’s trained hawk to fly down and steal the third scroll. After a chase down to the harbour, pursued by Tintin and Haddock, Sakharine finally escapes with all three scrolls. Tintin chases him back to Europe and arranges a police reception for him on the dockside. Haddock and Sakharine, who is revealed to be the descendant of Red Rackham, replay their ancestors’ swashbuckling sword fight, using dockside cranes, and Haddock is eventually victorious.
With the three scrolls in their possession, Tintin and Haddock find that the indicated location is Marlinspike Hall, and that the hall had been built originally by Sir Francis Haddock. There, in the cellar, they find some of the treasure, and a clue to the location of the sunken Unicorn.

Here is the official trailer of The Adventures Of Tintin

Popularity: 4% [?]