Sherlock: "The Empty Hearse" Reviewed

              After an extremely exasperating two-year hiatus, Benedict Cumberbatch recently returned as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC Series 3 premiere entitled "The Empty Hearse". While the plot involves an imminent terrorist attack on London, the heart of the episode is really in the reunion of Holmes and Watson after Sherlock cleverly fakes his death in "The Reichenbach Fall". Much like viewers of the show, John Watson endures two painful years without Sherlock, and the consulting detective certainly encounters a wide variety of responses upon his return. I have never been more emotionally overwhelmed by a television show that I was by this episode of Sherlock. I found it hilarious, heartbreaking, and completely ridiculous, but in the end, very satisfying. In fact, it may very well be my favorite of all seven episodes aired so far!

          One of the greatest things about "The Empty Hearse", like all Sherlock episodes, is the incredible balance of humor and gravity maintained throughout the course of the story. I never could have predicted just how the reunion of Sherlock and John would play out, and while I was very surprised by the method chosen, I wasn't disappointed. I found myself wanting to laugh hysterically and scream with frustration at the same time. The show writers Gatiss and Moffat are notorious for the emotional manipulation of their viewers, and this episode delivers like none other. However, the witty scripts are brought to life only through the incredibly talented cast. We get to see Benedict Cumberbatch playing opposite the other actors one-on-one in a way that defines each of their unique relationships in character. For me, there were a few stand out interactions: when John and Sherlock are reunited, when John forgives Sherlock in the face of their demise, when Sherlock tells Molly she mattered the most and wishes her happiness for the future, and when Sherlock and Mycroft discuss their childhood. We see Sherlock's personality shifting and developing in new and exciting ways, all while retaining the sociopathic charm that we've all come to know and love.
          Another aspect of "The Empty Hearse" that I particularly enjoyed was the opening scene. The great thing about the fictional theory sequences is that we get to see sides of Sherlock that don't actually exist, which is an extraordinarily unique opportunity, both for us as viewers, and for Benedict to show off his versatility as an actor. Sure, smashing through the window and kissing Molly was totally out of character for Sherlock, but that was still one of the smoothest moves I've ever seen, and I loved every second of it. The entire episode really kept you on your toes wondering what was real and what was imagined.
          As I said before, I found this episode quite satisfying after enduring the major cliffhanger of "The Reichenbach Fall" so long ago, but nevertheless I have some lingering questions. We see Anderson struggling with the guilt of pushing Sherlock to his supposed death, but what happened to Sergeant Donovan? Does she have any remorse for not believing in Holmes, or is she merely glad to be rid of him? Also, Sherlock explains to Anderson how he pulled off faking his death, but Anderson makes a remark that causes the viewer to wonder whether Sherlock has told him the truth. Will we ever know what really happened that fateful day atop St. Bart's Hospital? Perhaps not.

FUN FACTS:

Did you know that John Watson's fiancé, Mary Mortson, is played by Martin Freeman's actual wife Amanda Abbington? 

Or that Sherlock's parents are played by none other than Benedict Cumberbatch's real mom and dad?

         

         

 Or that the code word "Lazarus" was the title of a Doctor Who episode which Mark Gatiss (Mycroft) both wrote and acted in?

                                   

                 

Well now you do! And it's details like that which give this series its absurdly high quality.

Macbeth

          I recently saw a production of Macbeth starring Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston. While the play itself was performed in the UK, I was able to attend a screening at UCLA through National Theatre Live. I wasn't sure what to expect, but in the end I was pleasantly surprised with the experience. It was a tremendous advantage, enabling a widespread audience to sit through a production they would otherwise not be able to attend.

          As someone who is neither an avid theater-goer nor particularly well-versed in Shakespeare, I went into Macbeth with virtually no expectations. I was rather pleased when the cast delivered a really solid performance. Seeing this play took me back to my high school days, and certain lines triggered memories of memorization and performance. In fact, I'd nearly forgotten that one of my very favorite Shakespearean passages comes from Macbeth, and I sat in my seat reciting it my head as Branagh spoke the words aloud:

"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day

To the last syllable of recorded time,

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing."

          In general, the experience of seeing Macbeth was incredibly unique because it was neither a live performance nor a film- instead it managed to entwine the best of both worlds. While the real audience members were limited to the single viewpoint of their seats, our theater was privileged in that we got to view each scene from several wonderfully-articulated camera angles. In that sense, the play was very active and engaging in a way that it wouldn't have been for the people viewing it in person. As someone who tends to prefer film over theater, I think that element is what really drew me into this performance. However, unlike watching a movie, these productions by NTL are done live. While the play is being viewed from a camera, it is unedited footage, which makes the overall composition feel very genuine.

          One thing I rather enjoyed about this play was the stage design- specifically that there was no stage. Instead, the theater was divided in half, allowing the performers to pass from one side to the other through a central passageway with audience members sitting on either side. This space allowed for a lot of action and movement that would've been difficult to pull off with a more typical platform. I thought it worked really well.

           If there was one stand-out actor in this production, it was Alexander Vlahos, who played Malcom. While he didn't have a particularly large part, I was constantly drawn to the energy and grace of his performance. I hope his acting career continues to expand because I'd love to see him perform again.

          Overall, I had a great experience, and I would highly recommend looking into National Theatre Live for future entertainment opportunities. In the upcoming months, I already have tickets to see Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch and Coriolanus with Tom Hiddleston. Needless to say, I'm rather excited. 

Thor: The Dark World Review

          I have to say that after seeing Thor The Dark World multiple times in the past week, I am still left with an array of very mixed feelings. In my opinion, it was certainly the weakest of the three associated films. That being said, there were many elements of it that I did thoroughly enjoy.

[SPOILERS AHEAD: Read On At Your Own Risk]

          First and foremost, the movie seemed to be a bit at war with itself in terms of genre. It was largely action, but there were elements of comedy, romance and drama introduced rather abruptly at various points. Now, many movies have pulled off that sort of balancing act, and while I don't think The Dark World was particularly successful at it, the film did benefit from the attempted multi-dimensionality because the main storyline was not strong enough to stand alone.
          There were several plots going on simultaneously, and the main thread involving the dark elves was the weakest in my opinion. It felt somewhat forced within the larger context of the movie series, and involved an unnecessary amount of special effects that, for the most part, lacked the "wow" factor that should accompany good action sequences. There was far too much reliance on the mystical power of the aether, and very little actual explanation as to why certain things were happening.
           More than that however, the biggest problem with the storyline was that it lacked the emotional component that made the first film such a success. The primary villain, Malekith, is a tremendously two-dimensional character with no real motivation behind his treachery. In that respect The Dark World was a disappointing follow-up to Thor and The Avengers, which showcased Loki as the emotionally-driven antagonist. It's that extra layer of characterization which has led to his becoming the most beloved villain of the modern era. With Malekith, even his defeat, which is meant to be the climax of the movie, is underwhelming because the audience doesn't have a fully developed understanding of his character.

          Another thing that frustrated me about The Dark World was a specific scene: Loki's death on Svartalfheim. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a wonderfully heartfelt segment between the two brothers. What bothered me was the abrupt transition into the next scene. One second we see Thor angered and mourning, and the next he is completely composed and joking around with Jane as they escape to Earth. Now, I understand that the audience may not have believed Loki was really dead, but the point is that Thor did. I just felt he should've reacted differently after having lost both his mother and his brother. Faked or not, I don't think Loki's death received the treatment that his character deserved.
           Speaking of Thor and Loki, I'd like to address the last, and most aggravating thing about this entire movie. The house of Odin is obviously very broken and flawed after the events that take place in Thor and The Avengers, and while this set of complex and dynamic relationships lent itself to some incredibly powerful story material, Marvel chose not to capitalize on it. The small moments shared between the various family members were, by far, the most successful bits of the entire film. I adored the scene between Loki and Odin,

the scene between Loki and Frigga,

the scene between Thor and Odin,

the scene between Odin and Frigga,

and of course, every scene between Thor and Loki.

Those sequences in particular were what really brought the movie into the hearts of the audience. However, they were few and fleeting in duration. I wish the film would've emphasized the relationships between Thor, Odin, Loki and Frigga even more, because they were very moving and immensely powerful.

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          Now that I've thoroughly criticized the movie, I'd like to point out that there were several positive aspects of the film as well. For one thing, the comedic relief was both successful and necessary, and let's face it, Loki pretty much dominated on that front. In fact, the internet has begun referring to the God of Mischief as the "God of Sass"- and for good reason. The brotherly banter that ensues between he and Thor brings their complex relationship down to a more relateable, more human level. The cameo with Captain America was absolutely golden, and the scene when Thor hangs Mjolnir up on the wall was equally well-articulated. I found myself laughing repeatedly throughout the film, and I think the overall movie would've been significantly less enjoyable without that element of humor.

  

      
             For me, there are two standout characters in this movie: Loki and Frigga. What fascinates me about Loki is that he evolves noticeably between each film. In Thor, he is young and emotionally distraught, in The Avengers, he is bitter, ruthless and aggressive, and in The Dark World, Tom Hiddleston delivers a much more sarcastic, sardonic version of Loki that we hadn't really seen before. Despite the interesting shifts in personality, I find my attachment to this character unwavering. The relationship between Frigga and Loki is also one of the best things about the entire film. Yes, it's her death that ultimately leads to his provisional freedom, but it's quite evident that Loki genuinely cares about her. That being said, Frigga is a strong female character all on her own. We see her fearlessly take on the villain, Malekith, and she even dies with honor and grace as the Queen of Asgard. I was extremely concerned when Frigga and Loki were killed off almost consecutively. As two of the strongest, most dynamic characters, it would've been a shame to eliminate them both from the franchise.

          When it comes down to it, the very end of the movie compensates for all of its prior shortcomings. I was absolutely ecstatic when Loki was revealed on the throne. However, I feel like the shock and excitement caused people to overlook the beauty of what had just passed between Thor and "Odin" (aka Loki in disguise). It may have been Loki doing the talking, and he may not have meant a single word that he said, but I loved that it took a veil of deceit to allow the brothers to compliment one another, and I can't wait to see what happens next. Nobody really knows for certain where the story will go from here. Will there be a Thor 3? Will Loki finally get that solo film the world's been rallying for? Only time will tell. Here's to the future. Long live the God of Mischief.

Alternate Thrills

It's that time of year again! Halloween is just around the corner, and as someone who doesn't like horror movies, I thought I'd share the one word that has regularly become my source of thrills every October: Hitchcock.
If you have never seen an Alfred Hitchcock film, you are truly missing out on some high quality, classic entertainment. As a director and producer ranging from the 1920's to the 1970's, Hitchcock wasn't called "the Master of Suspense" for nothing. Unlike the visual thrills we've become so accustomed to in modern entertainment, his films are more psychologically gripping, and the story lines are immensely engaging even to this day.
Three of my all time favorite Hitchcock films are Psycho, Rear Window, and Strangers on a Train. I've included synopses of all three movies below.

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Psycho (1960)

Side note: As I was re-watching some clips from the film just now, I realized that the looks and mannerisms of Anthony Perkins as the character Norman Bates remind me a lot of Andrew Garfield. Apparently other people think so too, judging by this image I found floating around the internet. The resemblance is uncanny! I'd love to see a remake with Garfield cast in that role, but unfortunately there are already too many Psycho spin-offs. Bummer.

I think it's safe to say that this is the epitome of all murder mysteries- ever. I saw it for the first time two years ago and it still blows my mind. That being said, once you know the story, the experience of the film will never be the same. The premise revolves around a young woman who, after embezzling money from her employer and fleeing town, finds herself at an eerily secluded motel in the company of the mysterious manager Norman Bates, and his mother. If that doesn't peek your interest, I don't know what will.

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Rear Window (1954)

If you've ever seen the movie Disturbia (2007) with Shia LaBeouf, its basic premise is pulled from Hitchcock's Rear Window. After breaking his leg, the main character of finds himself confined to his apartment for a substantial amount of time. With nothing else to do, Jeff begins spying on his neighbors through binoculars, and as time goes on he notices some startlingly suspicious activity. Similarly, in Disturbia, the main character Kale is on house arrest, leaving him helpless when he realizes that one of his neighbors is in fact a murderer.
I've seen both films and and enjoyed both films, Rear Window being on one end of the spectrum as perhaps just a bit unsatisfying in terms of thrills and Disturbia on the opposite end, at borderline terrifying. That being said, I couldn't stop watching either of them.

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Strangers on a Train (1951)

I adore the premise of this movie. It's blunt and ridiculous and brings a horrifying topic down to a more comprehensive level. The video above is a pretty solid introduction, but essentially two strangers meet on a train ride and engage in a plot of murder in exchange for murder. However, as the movie progresses, the two men realize that they are not on the same page. It's an incredibly compelling and obscure story that is guaranteed to keep you engaged. 

Doctor Who: The 50th Anniversary and Beyond

 

The British Television series Doctor Who is celebrating its 50th anniversary on November 23, 2013 and the BBC just (finally) released the official poster for this iconic and celebratory episode of the show. Previous stars David Tennant (the Tenth Doctor) and Billie Piper (Rose) will be joining forces with Matt Smith and guest star John Hurt in what is sure to be an adventure of epic proportions, but beyond that little information has been released in regards to the content of episode or even the 50th celebration in general. With November 23rd now rapidly approaching, fans (more affectionately known as Whovians) are growing more and more anxious. 

Series 7, which concluded on May 18th, has received perhaps the most severely mixed reviews since Doctor Who started up again in 2005, leaving much of the audience concerned about the direction the show is now taking. In addition to the anniversary, 2013 proved to be even more of a milestone year when the departure of the current star, Matt Smith, was announced back in June. Following the anniversary episode, Smith will make his last appearance as The Doctor in a Christmas special this December. Knowing the loss of Matt Smith would be overwhelming, the BBC turned things right around by announcing who would be taking over the role. In a live broadcast on August 4, it was revealed that Peter Capaldi would be Smith's successor as the twelfth Doctor.

Those of you unfamiliar with Doctor Who probably have no idea just how big of a deal this really is. Next to the coronation of a new monarch, the announcement of a new Doctor is the pride and joy of the UK (at least in terms of entertainment). I don't think there's a Whovian out there that wouldn't be able to tell you where they were when they found out about the twelfth Doctor. As for my story, I was on vacation in Las Vegas. It was morning, and I was in my hotel room waiting for my sister to wake up so that we could start our day. I grabbed my laptop and logged onto my Facebook mere minutes before the announcement was made; not realizing the convenient timing until I witnessed the internet nearly implode upon itself. My news feed exploded, I got text messages from friends, and let's just say I can't believe Tumblr didn't crash from overuse as fans around the world posted their reactions to the news in uncontrollable quantities. It was mind-blowingly remarkable.
The transition from one Doctor to another is always a bittersweet event (actually it's entirely bitter at the time it occurs, but never fails to turn sweet in the end). While Peter Capaldi has already been  wholeheartedly welcomed as the newest star of Doctor Who, it's impossible not to associate his casting with the inevitable demise of Matt Smith. The 50th anniversary and Christmas specials, while highly anticipated, will surely not fail to be heartbreaking as they mark the end of one era and the beginning of another.
 

The Wonderful World of Color

Last November I had the pleasure of attending Disney's California Adventure park for the first time in about ten years. While the design improvements throughout the park in general were both countless and impressive, there was one thing in particular that captured my attention, and that was the World of Color. 

For those who don't know, World of Color is a nighttime show at California Adventure combining light, water, music, fog, visual projections and fire into an entertainment phenomenon. The whole thing required about $75,000,000 to design, manufacture and build (according to Wikipedia), and I'm assuming the cost of upkeep isn't a small number either. 

World of Color is truly one of the most, if not the most, breathtaking thing I have ever seen in my life. The show runs about 27 minutes in length, and there's not a single dull moment. My jaw literally fell open over and over again in sheer awe of the beautiful choreography. It's a visual delight guaranteed to fill you with nostalgia if you grew up with Disney. 

This is the perfect event for parents and children to enjoy together. I saw the production for the second time just recently, and looking around at the crowd, I was incredibly surprised by the attentiveness of young children, teenagers and adults alike. Everyone looked to be enjoying themselves, despite the fact that it was the end of the day and you have to stand for the entire duration of the show on tired feet. 

I think the thing that makes this show particularly successful is that it draws on all the senses simultaneously. You can smell the fog, hear the music and feel the mist of the water and the heat of the fire even from the very back of the viewing area. You feel one-hundred percent engaged in the moment.

I highly encourage you to see the World of Color if you ever get the chance. The visual and auditory content is constantly being updated and revised to encompass the latest Disney movies, songs, and characters. However, there are also snippets of the classic films and even the company's early cartoon shorts to satisfy older Disney-goers and die-hard fans.

If you can't make it to California Adventure anytime soon, you can catch the entire show here. Naturally it's not quite as impressive online, but it gives you a taste of what World of Color is all about. 

9/12/13: Tom Hiddleston LIVE on Twitter

This morning, @marveluk sponsored a one-hour live chat with actor Tom Hiddleston on Twitter. Needless to say, the internet went a little crazy! I've never witnessed anything quite like this before, and until today I had very limited knowledge of how to even use Twitter, but I guess that only made it all the more exciting!

Fans from across the globe immediately began tweeting their questions to Tom when this event was announced on various social media sites yesterday. The conversation was based strictly on whatever items Hiddleston decided to answer.

Just to stir up a bit of excitement before the chat began, Tom posted this behind-the-scenes photo from the set of Thor titled Filming Loki's Demise (2011). This photo definitely got me really excited, and may very well be my favorite thing to come out of the entire event. In the movie, this scene has such an intense emotional resonance, that seeing it all laid out with the green screens makes it infinitely more awesome!

Before I even get into the content of this conversation, can we just take a minute to appreciate the immense modesty of this man?

He never ceases to be amazed by the quantity of his followers and his sincere appreciation of us all is quite endearing.

Now, even though this was a live chat, it obviously takes time for a person read through a massive pool of questions, chose one to answer, and then give a concise and adequate response. It was a lot of fun watching new items gradually pop up in my feed. And in between Hiddleston's tweets, you could relish in and laugh at the comments posted by other people. 

What really blew mind though, was the number of people who were online and actively involved in this event world-wide. Tom would post something and within mere seconds it had hundreds of notes. There's something truly magical about the instantaneous communication that is made possible by the internet, but I digress...

In addition to sharing his favorite Shakespearian insults and his preferred song to jam out to on the set of Thor: The Dark World, Tom also revealed that his latest film, Only Lovers Left Alive will reach the US sometime in late March or early April 2014. 

While this conversation was only scheduled to last one hour, Hiddleston was gracious enough to continue answering questions far beyond the time limit, and the event eventually ended the way it started: with "Lots of Love" from Tom. 

So rather than trying to summarize everything that went on during the chat today, I've posted bits and pieces of the Q&A that I found particularly interesting below. Enjoy!

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(aww, can't wait to see this mother-son relationship depicted in the movie)

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All in all, the whole thing was a fun little affair. I learned a lot about Tom Hiddleston and even more about Twitter.

You can follow Tom on his official Facebook account here: https://www.facebook.com/twhiddleston
                                                       Twitter account here: https://twitter.com/twhiddleston

The MARVELous World of Disney

Back in 2009, the Walt Disney Company purchased MARVEL for a whopping $4 billion dollars. There was a lot of concern expressed at the time, as MARVEL fans feared the worst for future movie productions. However, after the immense success of recent films such as Iron Man 2, Captain America, Thor and The Avengers, I think it's safe to say that those worries have since been put to rest.

The two companies have managed to maintain surprisingly distinct identities despite the absorption of MARVEL by Disney. Recently though, there has been a great deal of speculation about how the various MARVEL superheroes will inevitably be incorporated into Disney products and theme parks. 

Four years after purchasing the company, Disney is finally initiating some projects that will introduce elements of MARVEL into the existing magic. As a fan of both companies, I'm rather excited by the things they are planning. 

The Disneyland park in Anaheim California got the party started this year by opening up a Stark Industries exhibit to accompany the film Iron Man 3. According to Disney.com visitors can "experience the latest Iron Man technology" in both physical and virtual form. But this is only the beginning. The Disney Cruise Line is said to be starting an Avengers Academy for young fans to enjoy their time at sea in an environment themed to that of the S.H.I.E.L.D helicarrier (video). It is said that Captain America will even appear in character to inspire budding Avengers.

Most recently however, Disney has announced their intention to bring the mighty Thor into Disneyland in correlation with the release of the The Dark World this coming November (Disney Parks Blog). Guests will now be able to meet and greet their favorite hero in person. How cool is that? 

With all of these smaller elements of MARVEL gradually creeping into the wonderful world of Disney, I can't help but wonder if we will ever see a full on MARVEL theme park (or at least a MARVEL-themed land within one of the existing parks) in the future. Can you imagine crossing the Bifrost bridge, seeing the Asgardian castle, visiting Stark Tower, bumping into agent Coulson, or coming face to face with the God of Mischief himself? How magical would that be for young superhero fans?