Here are a list of events that you can all look forward to seeing on my blog following the Memorial Day Weekend! In the coming weeks I plan to have for your reading enjoyment....
1. An in-depth review of "The Hangover Part II." I will be seeing this sure-to-be-hilarious comedy blockbuster this weekend; so you can expect it to be on my blog by the end of next week.
2. Live-blogging coverage of this year's MTV Movie Awards on June 5 starting at 8:00pm. This is going be really intense as I plan to be commenting on who wins, who loses and which movie MTV viewers picked to be Best Film. (SPOILER ALERT: It's most likely going to be "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse". Thanks a lot MTV. The ceremony hasn't even taken place yet and I already know the winner!!!!)
3. A review of "X-Men First Class." (After I see it, of course)
4. Mini-reviews of Saturday Night Live repeats from this past season.
And Much, Much More! So, everybody enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend! And I promise you all that this summer is going to be filled with a TON of Nater-Tainment!!!! Have a great holiday weekend everybody!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
That's Nater-Tainment Special Report: Justin Timberlake Hosts the Season Finale of Saturday Night Live
Well it’s finally over. The thirty-sixth season of Saturday Night Live came to its conclusion this past weekend; featuring the fourth hosting stint by musician-turned-actor Justin Timberlake and the return of Lady Gaga as the show’s respective musical guest. As I stated in my previous post, I was hoping for the 2010-2011 season to end on a high note with no disappointments. Unfortunately, as the show did a lot this year, I was let down yet again as the show featured sketches that were repeated many times before; thus not featuring much originality and not many genuine surprises. However, I can go on record as to say that the performances by Timberlake, the cast, and Lady Gaga improved the quality of the sketches a tad better; thus giving a slight spark to the evening. Thus, I can say with utmost honesty:
The Thirty-Sixth Season Finale of Saturday Night Live, while Filled with Reoccurring Sketches, was a Decent Show Thanks to Good Performances
The show opened with Featured Player Taren Killam portraying Former IMF Head Dominique Strauss-Kahn being sent to a prison cell at Rikers Island; where he would be staying with two inmates-- played by Cast Member Kenan Thompson and Featured Payer Jay Pharoah. The cast member's characters were mocking Killam's arrested character about the situation; as well as expressing their opinions on international issues. The performances were good and Thompson and Pharoah worked well as their characters. It was a decent opening and it got me looking forward to the rest of the show.
For his monologue, our host for the evening claimed that even though Executive Producer Lorne Michaels wanted him to sing at least once, he would not do so. Of course, Timberlake did end up singing; as he crooned about all the things he would not do when performing a musical piece— but ended up doing so anyway. The whole monologue was very predictable; but Timberlake’s energy made it fun and I excited for the first sketch.
The first segment of the night starred cast member Kristen Wiig as a costumed spokesperson for a tea restaurant that was facing competition from Justin Timberlake’s character—a dancing mascot for a liquor store. The sketch featured Timberlake breaking into parodies of popular songs in his effort to take customers away from Wiig’s character. This type of sketch has been done everytime Timberlake hosts the show; as he once did played a mascot for homeless shelter in December 2006 as well as being costumed as an omelet for a pice when he first emceed the program in October 2003. The segment basically played out as it always does; with the slight exception for the inclusion of Lady Gaga as a fellow mascot for Timberlake’s character’s company. The chemistry and energy present by the three performers was very good; making the sketch entertaining.
Image taken from http://cbswzmx.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lady-gaga-justin-timberlake-on-saturday-night-live.jpg?w=385&h=282
The second sketch of the evening marked the third appearance by cast member Bill Hader’s elderly and out-of-touch news reporter Herb Welch; who I actually brought up in post before this one. This time, Hader’s character was supposed to be interviewing students who were evacuating from their school; which was suffering from a serious gas leak. Unfortunately, as we have seen by the previous two installments of the sketch, the aged reporter can’t get the job done properly; as he could never find the right people to interview and was clueless about what was going on. Even though Hader is one of my favorite cast members, and he still gives a good performance as his character, the sketch has ran its course and I am tired of basically seeing the same thing repeated over and over again.
The show’s digital short followed next; once again featuring cast member Andy Samberg’s and Justin Timberlake’s R &B Duo that was first introduced in 2006 and then returned when the later hosted in May 2009. This time, their characters were singing about having a three-way with the same woman they are dating; which happened to be played by Lady Gaga. Unlike the previous appearances by their characters, this particular video seemed rushed and too ridiculous. And even though Timberlake, Samberg, and Lady Gaga performed well, I felt that the whole reason for the short was just to appease the audience’s need to see the characters again. It was at this point in the show that I figured there would probably be no original material whatsoever.
Image taken from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOBBp48aw0FGlvZjzszS-VDhh903LxXqqr_Es37GAb3oh14V2UnGkRoYBsGqAHjFRZP5VzUGzV5M8fj5gV6J8YxkUUADwUBgiGU6abDVzdm1Zx-Ra4Qn86Yca-XNyqhqv3sY35PTeum0/s1600/SNL+Andy+Samberg+Lady+Gaga+Justin+Timberlake+3-Way+Threeway+Saturday+Night+Live+Dick+In+A+Box+The+Golden+Rule.jpg
And of course, I was right once again. Other sketches that were included in the finale were a game show sketch in which Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga had to guess the name of a given person. The joke of the sketch was that Lady Gaga was able to correctly identify people that they had met at some point in their lives. While Lady Gaga was able to recognize every single person, Timberlake wasn’t able to do so. While the premise of the sketch sounds funny, it should be noted that the very same sketch, which happens to be entitled “What’s That Name?,” was first done back in December when Paul Rudd hosted. The only difference between these two installment, was that Rudd’s and Featured Player Vanessa Bayer’s characters, weren’t able to easily distinguish anyone. The only difference this time was that Timberlake and Lady Gaga were playing themselves and only the later knew everyone’s name. When the piece aired the first time, it was fresh and I was laughing the whole time. This time, I was confused to figure out why they would repeat a good one-time-only sketch. Nevertheless, all the performances in the sketch were very good and Lady Gaga showed to me that she can act as well as sing.
Image taken from http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tvsquad.com/media/2011/05/snltimberlakegaga640.jpg
But, following this comedy routine, I was disappointed to see an encore of a sketch that aired during my favorite episode of the season; which happened to be hosted by Jim Carrey. The sketch features an amusement park ride that breaks down mid-course; right in front of barbershop-quartet-dressed animatronic-robots that appear to come alive--- and one of two stuck passengers notices the attractions coming to life. When the first sketch aired this past January, Carrey joined Bill Hader and Featured Player Taren Killam as the robotic-beings that freaked out a passenger, played by Kenan Thompson, while delighted another amusement park visitor; played by Kristen Wiig. The first time the sketch was performed, I was laughing hysterically as it was a very creative and well-executed idea. This time, while Timberlake did a good job playing one of the robots, I was let down greatly as a once-great sketch was now being turned into a reoccurring one. However, everyone still a very good job with the material; especially Jason Sudeikis—who was great as the freaked out amusement park tourist.
Following this piece, another reoccurring sketch was performed. This time, it was a game show piece entitled “Secret Word;” and it was actually being performed for the third time this season. The sketch once again starred Abby Elliot and Bobby Moynihan as contestants being paired-up with celebrity panelists fin an attempt to win. Unfortunately, they are paired up with two celebrities for the show; as Kristen Wiig portrayed theatrical actress Mindy Gracin and Justin Timberlake played master illusionist The Mysterious Crandell. The joke of the sketch was that Wiig’s character would keep giving away the answer to every question, which causes her teammate to lose each round, and that Timberlake’s character was too occupied by performing acts of wonder rather than helping his matched-up contestant figure out each question asked by Bill Hader’s emcee character. While the performances were once again very good, I was by now very tired of the fact that there was not one totally original sketch this evening so far; other than the opening. I now realized that the writers can not think of anything original whatsoever.
At the end of the night, however, there was a reoccurring sketch that I was truly happy to see. Of course, I’m talking about “The Barry Gibb Talk Show.” The sketch stars Former Castmember Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake as brothers Barry and Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees. The format of the sketch features Fallon’s portrayal of Barry Gibb interrupting his political guests and shouting comical name-calling to their faces. Fallon constantly gives a great performance everytime the sketch is done, which happens to be whenever Justin Timberlake is on SNL, and he always makes me laugh when doing his exaggerated impression of the musician. Timberlake is also great as the almost-always-quiet brother Robin; only briefly speaking when Fallon’s Barry asks him if he has anything to contribute to the “discussion.” To which, he would never have anything to add. Fallon and Timberlake are a great team and I wish that the sketch would have aired earlier in the evening; as it was my favorite sketch of the night.
Image taken from http://static-l3.blogcritics.org/11/05/22/159931/SNL2.jpg?t=20110522103603
Other highlights of the show included a surprisingly brief “Weekend Update;” which featured Andy Samberg impersonating actor Nicholas Cage during an interview with Bradley Cooper. The whole piece was basically meant to lampoon the actor’s constant habit of screaming and overacting in a majority of his films. Thus, I feel that Samberg and Cooper were very funny together and it was a very engaging piece.
I also have to admit that I enjoyed Lady Gaga’s performing as the show’s musical guest. I do enjoy her well-known song “Born This Way;” as it is a very appealing and fun song. I also liked her new song “Judas” as well; since it is catchy and I am interested in listening to it on the radio or the Internet. Furthermore, Lady Gaga was able to contribute some additional energy to every sketch she was in and I think that she is going to be hosting the show at some point in time.
As I look back on my review, I do feel that the overall episode, while very much filled with repeated material and routines, the performances by everyone made the show better than it could have been. And Timberlake is always a good host as he has great chemistry with the cast and I would even like it if he joined the show for a season or two-- if his schedule allows him to.
And now that the season is over, we will be having repeats throughout the summer; until late September, when the thirty-seventh season begins airing. And, if I see certain episodes rerun during the summer at some point, I will post a mini-review that outlines my overall comments and feelings about the material that was included and the manner in which the host was used. And then, when the new season starts, I promise that I will be reviewing the episodes for your reading pleasure. For even though the material is weak, the cast is definitely great and I look forward to seeing them again in the fall.
e-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
The Thirty-Sixth Season Finale of Saturday Night Live, while Filled with Reoccurring Sketches, was a Decent Show Thanks to Good Performances
The show opened with Featured Player Taren Killam portraying Former IMF Head Dominique Strauss-Kahn being sent to a prison cell at Rikers Island; where he would be staying with two inmates-- played by Cast Member Kenan Thompson and Featured Payer Jay Pharoah. The cast member's characters were mocking Killam's arrested character about the situation; as well as expressing their opinions on international issues. The performances were good and Thompson and Pharoah worked well as their characters. It was a decent opening and it got me looking forward to the rest of the show.
For his monologue, our host for the evening claimed that even though Executive Producer Lorne Michaels wanted him to sing at least once, he would not do so. Of course, Timberlake did end up singing; as he crooned about all the things he would not do when performing a musical piece— but ended up doing so anyway. The whole monologue was very predictable; but Timberlake’s energy made it fun and I excited for the first sketch.
The first segment of the night starred cast member Kristen Wiig as a costumed spokesperson for a tea restaurant that was facing competition from Justin Timberlake’s character—a dancing mascot for a liquor store. The sketch featured Timberlake breaking into parodies of popular songs in his effort to take customers away from Wiig’s character. This type of sketch has been done everytime Timberlake hosts the show; as he once did played a mascot for homeless shelter in December 2006 as well as being costumed as an omelet for a pice when he first emceed the program in October 2003. The segment basically played out as it always does; with the slight exception for the inclusion of Lady Gaga as a fellow mascot for Timberlake’s character’s company. The chemistry and energy present by the three performers was very good; making the sketch entertaining.
Image taken from http://cbswzmx.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lady-gaga-justin-timberlake-on-saturday-night-live.jpg?w=385&h=282
The second sketch of the evening marked the third appearance by cast member Bill Hader’s elderly and out-of-touch news reporter Herb Welch; who I actually brought up in post before this one. This time, Hader’s character was supposed to be interviewing students who were evacuating from their school; which was suffering from a serious gas leak. Unfortunately, as we have seen by the previous two installments of the sketch, the aged reporter can’t get the job done properly; as he could never find the right people to interview and was clueless about what was going on. Even though Hader is one of my favorite cast members, and he still gives a good performance as his character, the sketch has ran its course and I am tired of basically seeing the same thing repeated over and over again.
The show’s digital short followed next; once again featuring cast member Andy Samberg’s and Justin Timberlake’s R &B Duo that was first introduced in 2006 and then returned when the later hosted in May 2009. This time, their characters were singing about having a three-way with the same woman they are dating; which happened to be played by Lady Gaga. Unlike the previous appearances by their characters, this particular video seemed rushed and too ridiculous. And even though Timberlake, Samberg, and Lady Gaga performed well, I felt that the whole reason for the short was just to appease the audience’s need to see the characters again. It was at this point in the show that I figured there would probably be no original material whatsoever.
Image taken from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOBBp48aw0FGlvZjzszS-VDhh903LxXqqr_Es37GAb3oh14V2UnGkRoYBsGqAHjFRZP5VzUGzV5M8fj5gV6J8YxkUUADwUBgiGU6abDVzdm1Zx-Ra4Qn86Yca-XNyqhqv3sY35PTeum0/s1600/SNL+Andy+Samberg+Lady+Gaga+Justin+Timberlake+3-Way+Threeway+Saturday+Night+Live+Dick+In+A+Box+The+Golden+Rule.jpg
And of course, I was right once again. Other sketches that were included in the finale were a game show sketch in which Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga had to guess the name of a given person. The joke of the sketch was that Lady Gaga was able to correctly identify people that they had met at some point in their lives. While Lady Gaga was able to recognize every single person, Timberlake wasn’t able to do so. While the premise of the sketch sounds funny, it should be noted that the very same sketch, which happens to be entitled “What’s That Name?,” was first done back in December when Paul Rudd hosted. The only difference between these two installment, was that Rudd’s and Featured Player Vanessa Bayer’s characters, weren’t able to easily distinguish anyone. The only difference this time was that Timberlake and Lady Gaga were playing themselves and only the later knew everyone’s name. When the piece aired the first time, it was fresh and I was laughing the whole time. This time, I was confused to figure out why they would repeat a good one-time-only sketch. Nevertheless, all the performances in the sketch were very good and Lady Gaga showed to me that she can act as well as sing.
Image taken from http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tvsquad.com/media/2011/05/snltimberlakegaga640.jpg
But, following this comedy routine, I was disappointed to see an encore of a sketch that aired during my favorite episode of the season; which happened to be hosted by Jim Carrey. The sketch features an amusement park ride that breaks down mid-course; right in front of barbershop-quartet-dressed animatronic-robots that appear to come alive--- and one of two stuck passengers notices the attractions coming to life. When the first sketch aired this past January, Carrey joined Bill Hader and Featured Player Taren Killam as the robotic-beings that freaked out a passenger, played by Kenan Thompson, while delighted another amusement park visitor; played by Kristen Wiig. The first time the sketch was performed, I was laughing hysterically as it was a very creative and well-executed idea. This time, while Timberlake did a good job playing one of the robots, I was let down greatly as a once-great sketch was now being turned into a reoccurring one. However, everyone still a very good job with the material; especially Jason Sudeikis—who was great as the freaked out amusement park tourist.
Following this piece, another reoccurring sketch was performed. This time, it was a game show piece entitled “Secret Word;” and it was actually being performed for the third time this season. The sketch once again starred Abby Elliot and Bobby Moynihan as contestants being paired-up with celebrity panelists fin an attempt to win. Unfortunately, they are paired up with two celebrities for the show; as Kristen Wiig portrayed theatrical actress Mindy Gracin and Justin Timberlake played master illusionist The Mysterious Crandell. The joke of the sketch was that Wiig’s character would keep giving away the answer to every question, which causes her teammate to lose each round, and that Timberlake’s character was too occupied by performing acts of wonder rather than helping his matched-up contestant figure out each question asked by Bill Hader’s emcee character. While the performances were once again very good, I was by now very tired of the fact that there was not one totally original sketch this evening so far; other than the opening. I now realized that the writers can not think of anything original whatsoever.
At the end of the night, however, there was a reoccurring sketch that I was truly happy to see. Of course, I’m talking about “The Barry Gibb Talk Show.” The sketch stars Former Castmember Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake as brothers Barry and Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees. The format of the sketch features Fallon’s portrayal of Barry Gibb interrupting his political guests and shouting comical name-calling to their faces. Fallon constantly gives a great performance everytime the sketch is done, which happens to be whenever Justin Timberlake is on SNL, and he always makes me laugh when doing his exaggerated impression of the musician. Timberlake is also great as the almost-always-quiet brother Robin; only briefly speaking when Fallon’s Barry asks him if he has anything to contribute to the “discussion.” To which, he would never have anything to add. Fallon and Timberlake are a great team and I wish that the sketch would have aired earlier in the evening; as it was my favorite sketch of the night.
Image taken from http://static-l3.blogcritics.org/11/05/22/159931/SNL2.jpg?t=20110522103603
Other highlights of the show included a surprisingly brief “Weekend Update;” which featured Andy Samberg impersonating actor Nicholas Cage during an interview with Bradley Cooper. The whole piece was basically meant to lampoon the actor’s constant habit of screaming and overacting in a majority of his films. Thus, I feel that Samberg and Cooper were very funny together and it was a very engaging piece.
I also have to admit that I enjoyed Lady Gaga’s performing as the show’s musical guest. I do enjoy her well-known song “Born This Way;” as it is a very appealing and fun song. I also liked her new song “Judas” as well; since it is catchy and I am interested in listening to it on the radio or the Internet. Furthermore, Lady Gaga was able to contribute some additional energy to every sketch she was in and I think that she is going to be hosting the show at some point in time.
As I look back on my review, I do feel that the overall episode, while very much filled with repeated material and routines, the performances by everyone made the show better than it could have been. And Timberlake is always a good host as he has great chemistry with the cast and I would even like it if he joined the show for a season or two-- if his schedule allows him to.
And now that the season is over, we will be having repeats throughout the summer; until late September, when the thirty-seventh season begins airing. And, if I see certain episodes rerun during the summer at some point, I will post a mini-review that outlines my overall comments and feelings about the material that was included and the manner in which the host was used. And then, when the new season starts, I promise that I will be reviewing the episodes for your reading pleasure. For even though the material is weak, the cast is definitely great and I look forward to seeing them again in the fall.
e-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Friday, May 20, 2011
From the Mind of Nate: My View of The Thirty-Sixth Season of Saturday Night Live
Well, the month of May is almost over, and you all know what that means: the 2010-2011 television season is almost over. A lot of our favorite shows that began airing this past fall have practically finished their runs and will return this upcoming September once again. One such show, which has actually been around since the mid 1970’s, will be airing its season finale tonight at 11:30pm. Of course, I’m talking about NBC’s Saturday Night Live; which will be ending its thirty-sixth season with host Justin Timberlake and Musical Guest Lady Gaga. And as I look back on the episodes that have aired this season, I can’t help thinking that it has been a major disenchantment. This is the same show that has been making people laugh since it started airing. This was the show that fans would tune in to on a weekly basis I hopes to laugh for ninety minutes following a busy week. This show used to have very funny sketches, top-notch political humor, and a great opportunity for a different celebrity to be used to their full comic potential every week alongside a talented cast of performers. Unfortunately, I am sad to say that this season has left me very disheartened and irritated. Thus, I say with immense sadness:
The 2010-2011 Season of Saturday Night Live Did Not Live Up To My Expectations
When the 2009-2010 season of Saturday Night Live came to a close, I was greatly displeased with a majority of the episodes that have aired. Lots of the sketches I didn't find to be very humorous; due to a lot of crude humor and uninspired premises. I also thought that a majority of the hosts that had been on weren't funny at all; and thus affected the overall execution of the comedy pieces. Hosts like Megan Fox, Taylor Lautner, January Jones and Ryan Phillipe weren't great choices to host the program as they weren't funny whatsoever. Despite these setbacks, I remained optimistic that maybe the 2010-2011 season would be a vast improvement. And, in August, ,my hope was bolstered when it was announced that Jane Lynch was going to host SNL on October 9; As I loved her hilarious performances in comedies like "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Role Models." And, in September, my faith was restored even more as it was announced that Former Castmember Amy Poehler had been selected to host the season premier on September 25. And, as I had always been a fan of her work on SNL, I was looking forward to seeing her return to the show. Furthermore, as more and more talented performers, such as Bryan Cranston, Emma Stone, Jon Hamm, and Paul Rudd, were announced to host, I felt that this would be a much better season than the previous one. Unfortunately, as I watched every episode, I realized that even though the great hosts and the talented cast were giving their best performance possible, the show was still suffering due to immensely bad writing. Thus, I just felt so bad for everyone on the stage.
Image taken from http://media.avclub.com/images/articles/article/45355/snl_JPG_627x325_crop_upscale_q85.jpg
One such area that the writing suffered this season would be the fact that all the political humor has been deeply uninspiring. In the years gone by, we have seen the long-running sketch comedy show deal showcase many impersonations that had left a great legacy. Who could forget Dana Carvey’s great impression of Former President George Bush in the late 80’s-to-early-90’s. I always remember laughing hysterically as he had the voice and mannerisms down perfectly. I also remember longtime castmember Darrell Hammond portraying Former President Bill Clinton, especially during the time of the infamous Monica Lewinsky scandal; as a womanizer with a huge ego. Furthermore, I also remember Will Ferrell’s classic impression of Former President George W. Bush; who did a fine job mimicking the vocal patterns of the two-term leader as well as poking fun of some of the world’s policies at the time. Unhappily, throughout the season, we had veteran castmember Fred Armisen impersonate President Barack Obama within many sketches that contained barely any funny moments. More0ver, when a noteworthy event occured that could have treated audiences to something very special, any sketch that came to lightwas very uninspired. For instance, two weeks ago, Former Castmember Tina Fey participated in a parody of “The Little Mermaid,” which featured the mummified body of Osama Bin Laden floating amongst the castmembers dressed as fish. The jokes that followed were more-than-tasteless and it made me feel that the writers just wanted to display shock humor in a desperate attempt to be edgy; thus making everyone on stage look foolish. In addition, there were many opening sketches this season that spoofed programs airing on Fox News and CNN; which could have been very funny and creative. Although the pieces featured some funny impressions, such as Kristen Wiig’s amusing turn as Greta Van Sustren as well as Jason Sudeikis’ humorously incoherent portrayal of Wolf Blitzer, most of the jokes fell flat and I found myself just wanting to hear someone open the show.
Image taken from
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Rfm-dkodE7hOQ5jsTEJxjNZ4mJPGoR2PGej4NvIRTyihuLgV967vplGEWxrjZKuK5cjGrU00P1R9jmI6DInzKjmF6NMsxowk0UrVlusE3FsqYjemMx62y3qp4Bbai8Cz70avoQ9n6E1D/s640/snl.JPG
In addition to poorly-executed political vignettes, I have also been greatly dissatisfied by the abundance of reoccurring sketches that have only one joke that stretched out to fill out the allotted time before commercials. One such piece stars cast member Kenan Thompson as the overzealous host of a talkshow called “What Up with That,” in which his character, Diondre Cole spends the whole time singing the theme song rather than interviewing his guests—which often times are surprise cameos, such as Academy Award Winners Morgan Freeman and Robin Williams. The sketch also stars Bill Hader as musician Lindsey Buckingham; who is always never given the chance to say anything; but always ends up being cool with the situation. Every installment of the sketch basically had the same jokes as the guest were never given the chance to talk. In addition, the episode's given host often plays a musical performer within the segment. But, unfortunately, they are only given a moment to shine; and is then relegated to the background afterwards. The whole sketch is stretched out for too long; as there are several attractions featured in every edition; such as choirs, dancers and even life-size California Raisins. The audience in the studio seems to enjoy every minute of it; but I am simply staring at the television in a state of total confusion as to why people are applauding. Other cast members' reoccurring sketches that I gre tired of include Bill Hader's disoriented and elderly news reporter Herb Welch, Kristen Wiig's over-excited prize-give-away presenter, and Fred Armisen's rude producer-turned-relationship-adivser Roger Brush. Every sketch featuring by these characters followed the same format and did not depict the true comedic talents of the respected cast member.
Image taken from http://jokerreport.typepad.com/.a/6a00e393366a1a88340133f649cd6c970b-500wi
I am also fed up with seeing sketches featured on the show centralizing on sophomoric premises designed to get a cheap laugh from viewers. While there have been pieces this season that focus on bad sex jokes as well as cross-dressing-as-the-only-joke, these concepts tend to land deeply on the program’s biggest go-to-joke: two men kissing each other. Throughout the season, I have groaned in frustration as numerous pieces in which the sketch’s respective punch line is based around two men kissing. In fact, sometimes, as we have seen in sketches that featured hosts like Hamm and Sir Elton John, there are four minutes of no clever gags whatsoever. And then, at the end, there is an extended kiss between the two that is basically intended to be the big laugh-getter. I don’t find this to be funny at all as it seems that the writers had no idea of where to take the sketch, so they just draw out the whole thing until the final moment. The whole concept grows tired and it is an overall waste of the talents of the evening’s master of ceremonies.
And that brings me to my biggest gripe concerning this once great weekly sketch-comedy program: the show’s writers simply can’t write great material for their guest stars anymore. Throughout the show’s history, the host has always been giving starring roles in every sketch; no matter the premise. Comedic performers would always be given the opportunity to be hilarious in front of audiences every week. Furthermore, multiple-time hosts, such as Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken, were even given their own reoccurring characters so fans would have something to look forward to every time they were on. I always remember laughing when Hanks would play Mr. Short-Term-Memory; who always forgot everything at the drop of a hat. I also remember Christopher Walken making me laugh hysterically as he would portray “The Continental;” a gentleman-of-the-night who would always try to keep his female visitors from leaving his apartment—despite his inappropriate behavior. Now, during this lackluster season, we’ve had great and talented hosts casted in supporting roles that weren’t funny at all. For instance, I was very excited to see Ed Helms on SNL this past Saturday; as I love his uproarious performances on “The Office” and in “The Hangover.” But, I was greatly disappointed to see Helms not given a lot of major parts throughout the evening; with the exception of the monologue and a political advertisement-spoof that aired at the end of the show. I was also saddened by the fact that Former Castmember Dana Carvey did not get a lot to do when he hosted; as he did not get to do anything completely memorable following the resurrection of his well-known “Church Chat” sketch. It just pains me to see how my favorite comedy show has devolved into a ninety minute block of mediocrity and disappointment.
However, to be fair, this season of Saturday Night Live has given me some laughter throughout the later part of 2010 right into the first half of 2011. For instance, I greatly enjoyed Zach Galifianakis’ episode from start to finish when he appeared on the show this past March; especially as his performances in every sketch made everything much better.. I also enjoyed Jim Carrey’s long-awaited second hosting stint on January 8; as his involvement in a spoof of “Black Swan” had me squirming with amusement. And I could even say that Russell Brand's comic performances made his episode's sketches funnier than the writing made it appear. In fact, I could go as far as to say that a lot of the hosts this season performed as well as ther could in order to preserve the show. The only people who I felt did not do the best they could during the season were the suprisingly-listless Robert DeNiro and the one-dimensional Scarlett Johansson. Furthermore, I also feel that the cast did the best they could with the material as well and they still managed to get a laugh out of me a few times during the night.
Image taken from http://littleimg.com/files/42334_tzqff/2.saturday.night.live.png
But, nevertheless, I am still displeased as to how this season has been a major let down for me; seeing as a lot of the hosting choices were great and that the cast is still funny. But, in all honesty, I still believe in the show, despite its shortcoming, and I know that it will still be around to make people laugh in the coming years. And by Monday, I plan on posting a review of tonight’s Season Finale; headlined by Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga. I just hope that the 2010-2011 ends on a high note rather than a low one.
e-mail me at thatsnatertainment@hotmail.com
The 2010-2011 Season of Saturday Night Live Did Not Live Up To My Expectations
When the 2009-2010 season of Saturday Night Live came to a close, I was greatly displeased with a majority of the episodes that have aired. Lots of the sketches I didn't find to be very humorous; due to a lot of crude humor and uninspired premises. I also thought that a majority of the hosts that had been on weren't funny at all; and thus affected the overall execution of the comedy pieces. Hosts like Megan Fox, Taylor Lautner, January Jones and Ryan Phillipe weren't great choices to host the program as they weren't funny whatsoever. Despite these setbacks, I remained optimistic that maybe the 2010-2011 season would be a vast improvement. And, in August, ,my hope was bolstered when it was announced that Jane Lynch was going to host SNL on October 9; As I loved her hilarious performances in comedies like "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Role Models." And, in September, my faith was restored even more as it was announced that Former Castmember Amy Poehler had been selected to host the season premier on September 25. And, as I had always been a fan of her work on SNL, I was looking forward to seeing her return to the show. Furthermore, as more and more talented performers, such as Bryan Cranston, Emma Stone, Jon Hamm, and Paul Rudd, were announced to host, I felt that this would be a much better season than the previous one. Unfortunately, as I watched every episode, I realized that even though the great hosts and the talented cast were giving their best performance possible, the show was still suffering due to immensely bad writing. Thus, I just felt so bad for everyone on the stage.
Image taken from http://media.avclub.com/images/articles/article/45355/snl_JPG_627x325_crop_upscale_q85.jpg
One such area that the writing suffered this season would be the fact that all the political humor has been deeply uninspiring. In the years gone by, we have seen the long-running sketch comedy show deal showcase many impersonations that had left a great legacy. Who could forget Dana Carvey’s great impression of Former President George Bush in the late 80’s-to-early-90’s. I always remember laughing hysterically as he had the voice and mannerisms down perfectly. I also remember longtime castmember Darrell Hammond portraying Former President Bill Clinton, especially during the time of the infamous Monica Lewinsky scandal; as a womanizer with a huge ego. Furthermore, I also remember Will Ferrell’s classic impression of Former President George W. Bush; who did a fine job mimicking the vocal patterns of the two-term leader as well as poking fun of some of the world’s policies at the time. Unhappily, throughout the season, we had veteran castmember Fred Armisen impersonate President Barack Obama within many sketches that contained barely any funny moments. More0ver, when a noteworthy event occured that could have treated audiences to something very special, any sketch that came to lightwas very uninspired. For instance, two weeks ago, Former Castmember Tina Fey participated in a parody of “The Little Mermaid,” which featured the mummified body of Osama Bin Laden floating amongst the castmembers dressed as fish. The jokes that followed were more-than-tasteless and it made me feel that the writers just wanted to display shock humor in a desperate attempt to be edgy; thus making everyone on stage look foolish. In addition, there were many opening sketches this season that spoofed programs airing on Fox News and CNN; which could have been very funny and creative. Although the pieces featured some funny impressions, such as Kristen Wiig’s amusing turn as Greta Van Sustren as well as Jason Sudeikis’ humorously incoherent portrayal of Wolf Blitzer, most of the jokes fell flat and I found myself just wanting to hear someone open the show.
Image taken from
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Rfm-dkodE7hOQ5jsTEJxjNZ4mJPGoR2PGej4NvIRTyihuLgV967vplGEWxrjZKuK5cjGrU00P1R9jmI6DInzKjmF6NMsxowk0UrVlusE3FsqYjemMx62y3qp4Bbai8Cz70avoQ9n6E1D/s640/snl.JPG
In addition to poorly-executed political vignettes, I have also been greatly dissatisfied by the abundance of reoccurring sketches that have only one joke that stretched out to fill out the allotted time before commercials. One such piece stars cast member Kenan Thompson as the overzealous host of a talkshow called “What Up with That,” in which his character, Diondre Cole spends the whole time singing the theme song rather than interviewing his guests—which often times are surprise cameos, such as Academy Award Winners Morgan Freeman and Robin Williams. The sketch also stars Bill Hader as musician Lindsey Buckingham; who is always never given the chance to say anything; but always ends up being cool with the situation. Every installment of the sketch basically had the same jokes as the guest were never given the chance to talk. In addition, the episode's given host often plays a musical performer within the segment. But, unfortunately, they are only given a moment to shine; and is then relegated to the background afterwards. The whole sketch is stretched out for too long; as there are several attractions featured in every edition; such as choirs, dancers and even life-size California Raisins. The audience in the studio seems to enjoy every minute of it; but I am simply staring at the television in a state of total confusion as to why people are applauding. Other cast members' reoccurring sketches that I gre tired of include Bill Hader's disoriented and elderly news reporter Herb Welch, Kristen Wiig's over-excited prize-give-away presenter, and Fred Armisen's rude producer-turned-relationship-adivser Roger Brush. Every sketch featuring by these characters followed the same format and did not depict the true comedic talents of the respected cast member.
Image taken from http://jokerreport.typepad.com/.a/6a00e393366a1a88340133f649cd6c970b-500wi
I am also fed up with seeing sketches featured on the show centralizing on sophomoric premises designed to get a cheap laugh from viewers. While there have been pieces this season that focus on bad sex jokes as well as cross-dressing-as-the-only-joke, these concepts tend to land deeply on the program’s biggest go-to-joke: two men kissing each other. Throughout the season, I have groaned in frustration as numerous pieces in which the sketch’s respective punch line is based around two men kissing. In fact, sometimes, as we have seen in sketches that featured hosts like Hamm and Sir Elton John, there are four minutes of no clever gags whatsoever. And then, at the end, there is an extended kiss between the two that is basically intended to be the big laugh-getter. I don’t find this to be funny at all as it seems that the writers had no idea of where to take the sketch, so they just draw out the whole thing until the final moment. The whole concept grows tired and it is an overall waste of the talents of the evening’s master of ceremonies.
And that brings me to my biggest gripe concerning this once great weekly sketch-comedy program: the show’s writers simply can’t write great material for their guest stars anymore. Throughout the show’s history, the host has always been giving starring roles in every sketch; no matter the premise. Comedic performers would always be given the opportunity to be hilarious in front of audiences every week. Furthermore, multiple-time hosts, such as Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken, were even given their own reoccurring characters so fans would have something to look forward to every time they were on. I always remember laughing when Hanks would play Mr. Short-Term-Memory; who always forgot everything at the drop of a hat. I also remember Christopher Walken making me laugh hysterically as he would portray “The Continental;” a gentleman-of-the-night who would always try to keep his female visitors from leaving his apartment—despite his inappropriate behavior. Now, during this lackluster season, we’ve had great and talented hosts casted in supporting roles that weren’t funny at all. For instance, I was very excited to see Ed Helms on SNL this past Saturday; as I love his uproarious performances on “The Office” and in “The Hangover.” But, I was greatly disappointed to see Helms not given a lot of major parts throughout the evening; with the exception of the monologue and a political advertisement-spoof that aired at the end of the show. I was also saddened by the fact that Former Castmember Dana Carvey did not get a lot to do when he hosted; as he did not get to do anything completely memorable following the resurrection of his well-known “Church Chat” sketch. It just pains me to see how my favorite comedy show has devolved into a ninety minute block of mediocrity and disappointment.
However, to be fair, this season of Saturday Night Live has given me some laughter throughout the later part of 2010 right into the first half of 2011. For instance, I greatly enjoyed Zach Galifianakis’ episode from start to finish when he appeared on the show this past March; especially as his performances in every sketch made everything much better.. I also enjoyed Jim Carrey’s long-awaited second hosting stint on January 8; as his involvement in a spoof of “Black Swan” had me squirming with amusement. And I could even say that Russell Brand's comic performances made his episode's sketches funnier than the writing made it appear. In fact, I could go as far as to say that a lot of the hosts this season performed as well as ther could in order to preserve the show. The only people who I felt did not do the best they could during the season were the suprisingly-listless Robert DeNiro and the one-dimensional Scarlett Johansson. Furthermore, I also feel that the cast did the best they could with the material as well and they still managed to get a laugh out of me a few times during the night.
Image taken from http://littleimg.com/files/42334_tzqff/2.saturday.night.live.png
But, nevertheless, I am still displeased as to how this season has been a major let down for me; seeing as a lot of the hosting choices were great and that the cast is still funny. But, in all honesty, I still believe in the show, despite its shortcoming, and I know that it will still be around to make people laugh in the coming years. And by Monday, I plan on posting a review of tonight’s Season Finale; headlined by Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga. I just hope that the 2010-2011 ends on a high note rather than a low one.
e-mail me at thatsnatertainment@hotmail.com
Friday, May 13, 2011
Film Review: "Thor"
What makes the perfect superhero movie? Is it the casting of well-known performers, such as Robert Downey Jr. and Hugh Jackman, to play the titular hero of a specific film? Is it the constant fighting sequences that the hero endures with a specific villian? Or is it the latest technology that enhances the film's special effects that amaze audiences worldwide? While all of these elements are indeed essential for making a movie like this, I believe that the most important aspect would be a well-written story that allows the protagonist to emerge completely-developed emotionally. Unfortunately, most of the comic-book adaptations I have seen over the past few years were either convaluted by the inclusion of too many characters or the featuring of multiple storylines; which resulted in making the film difficult to follow. However, it pleases me to say that I recently saw a comic-book film that featured an easy-to-follow storyline, characters that were emotionally-developed, and the dealing with serious topics, such as humility and family, in a well-crafted manner. I am talking about Director Kenneth Branagh’s cosmic epic “Thor;” which opened May 6 and is based on the comic series from Marvel of the same name. And, thanks in large part to an intriguing tale and a talented ensemble of performers, which includes Australian Actor Chris Hemsworth as the film’s official star, we are given a well-developed tale of good-vs.-evil with real passion. Thus, I can verily say that:
"Thor" is an Exciting Story Consitisting of Action and Raw Emotion
When we first officially meet Chris Hemworth’s protagonist, he is about to inherit the powerful Hammer of Mjolnir as well as be declared the new ruler of the celestial world of Asgard by his father King Odin; portrayed with great authority and resolve by Anthony Hopkins. Unfortunately, the proceedings are interrupted by the Frost Giants, the Asgardians’ lifelong enemies, in an effort to steal The Casket of Ancient Warriors; which happens to be the primary source of all power in Thor’s home world. Despite the urging of his father not to cross the bridge that connects the Asgardians’ world to the home of the Frost Giants, Thor gathers his friends as well as his younger brother Loki, played with devilish elegance by Tom Hiddleston, in effort to make a stand against their neighboring rivals. After they cross the bridge, Thor and his band engage in a battle with the Frost Giants; even though they ultimately end up being outnumbered by a group of soldiers. Just then, King Odin arrives to stop the fighting; and later, in front of everyone, he declares him no longer the King of Asgard and banishes him to our world; where he is to learn a lesson in humility. He is also stripped of the Hammer of Mjolnir, which happens to be the source of all his power, and he eventually lands on the ground in New Mexico; where he is eventually discovered by scientist Jane Foster—played sincerely by Natalie Portman. Foster, along with her colleagues Darcy Lewis, played by Kat Dennings, and Dr. Erik Selvig, played by Stellan Skarsgard, take Hemsworth’s fallen God-Hero into their van and take him in for medical help; all the while not noticing the Hammer of Mjolnir cemented in stone and encased by a spell that only allows the laudable to remove it and embrace its power. Meanwhile, back in Asgard, Loki learns that he is actually not Odin's biological son; as he was discovered as an infant following a war with the Frost Giants years ago. Afte Loki confronts his father about the truth of his childhood, Hopkins’ character collapses; leading Loki to declare himself King. Meanwhile on Earth, Thor soon falls in love with Jane Foster; but still yearns to return to Asgard. And, throughout the film, Chris Hemsworth ensures a performance that allows audiences to cheer as he travels on his quest to redemption.
Image taken from http://www.comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Thor-Chris-Hemsworth.jpg
When watching “Thor”, it is great to see Chris Hemsworth’s character make the transition from being a foolhardy and revenge-seeking super-soldier; to becoming more reserved and respectful to his fellow man. At the start of the film, our protagonist is utterly blinded by over-confidence; particularly when he feels that he could defeat a stampede of monsters in the world of the Frost Giants. His character keeps fighting until he is surrounded by an army of enemies; only to be rescued by King Odin—who refuses his son’s urging to join him in battle. And, despite his pleas that he was only trying to defend Odin's honor, his over-ambition leads him to being scolded immensely by his father In other words, all our hero wanted to do was make his father proud; but, unfortunately, his actions brought about unexpectedly negative consequences.
However, it is some time after being banished to Earth that Chris Hemsworth’s Thor begins to understand compassion and deference. Upon meeting Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster, Thor is initially more-than-eager to return to his home world. Unfortunately, that means fighting a room full of hospital workers; and later, a group of agents working for the secretive military organization S.H.I.E.L.D. in a failed attempt to reclaim and utilize his powerful Hammer. It is through bonding and falling in love with Portman’s character that our hero is able to explore his softer side; thus beginning to understand compassion. And, when his brother unleashes his villainy onto Earth, Thor has to do what he can to ensure everyone's protection . And Chris Hemsworth’s overall performance keeps the audience on the edge of their seats; as he is obviously more-than-dedicated to his role.
But while Chris Hemsworth does a fine job portraying his hero, I believe that Tom Hiddleston gives a great performance as the villainous Loki as well. When it is revealed that he is not really the son of Hopkin’s character, Loki becomes consumed with rage; as he feels that he should have been declared the new King of Asgard. And from this point, you can see the fire in Hiddleston’s eyes as the actor gives his character a serious appetite for evil and conquest—by any means necessary. And all scenes that he shares with Chris Hemsworth’s character are well-executed; as the two actors face off against each other with great force and passion. In other words, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston are perfectly casted as their respective characters and all of their scenes are very emotional as well as full of action.
Image taken from http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/images/thor_interview_tom_hiddleston_loki_movie_2011.jpg
While Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston gave great performances throughout the film, there are, of course, some problems I had with the overall film. For instance, even though Natalie Portman did a good jop portraying Thor’s love interest Jane Foster, I wish she was given more screentime. Her scenes with Chris Hemsworth were well-performed and well-written; but I wish they had more scenes together. I also feel that Kat Dennings' and Stellan Skarsgard's roles could have been reducted a bit; so that more time could have been alotted to the relationship between Chris Hemsworth's and Natalie Portman's characters.
But perhaps the main problem I had with "Thor," would be the fact that Anthony Hopkins, while giving a fine and steadfast performance as King Odin, wasn's given anything spectacular to do; other than stripping Hemsworth’s Thor of his godly powers as well as revealing to Hiddleston’s Loki the truth about his past. Anthony Hopkins is a legendary actor and I was excited to see him in a movie based on a Marvel comic. However, I feel that he was mainly casted as a stunt to attract people who aren’t big comic book fans to see the film. It would have been great to observe Hopkin’s character participate in some of the action as well as engage in more scenes with Hemsworth’s and Hiddleston’s characters. But, unfortunately, that was not the case and I feel that any actor could have played his role.
Nevertheless, I can directly say that “Thor” was a comic book movie that not only entices audiences’ attention through action and captivating 3D footage; but, also through a solid story and a significant amount of sentiment. I am really looking forward to seeing Chris Hemsworth don the Hammer of Mjolnir once again in May 2012; when he stars alongside Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury in Director Joss Whedon’s adaptation of “The Avengers.” And, hopefully, we can get a well-written story to accompany such a high-profile film. For even though special effects and action-sequences are fascinating, nothing is more powerful than human emotion.
e-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
"Thor" is an Exciting Story Consitisting of Action and Raw Emotion
When we first officially meet Chris Hemworth’s protagonist, he is about to inherit the powerful Hammer of Mjolnir as well as be declared the new ruler of the celestial world of Asgard by his father King Odin; portrayed with great authority and resolve by Anthony Hopkins. Unfortunately, the proceedings are interrupted by the Frost Giants, the Asgardians’ lifelong enemies, in an effort to steal The Casket of Ancient Warriors; which happens to be the primary source of all power in Thor’s home world. Despite the urging of his father not to cross the bridge that connects the Asgardians’ world to the home of the Frost Giants, Thor gathers his friends as well as his younger brother Loki, played with devilish elegance by Tom Hiddleston, in effort to make a stand against their neighboring rivals. After they cross the bridge, Thor and his band engage in a battle with the Frost Giants; even though they ultimately end up being outnumbered by a group of soldiers. Just then, King Odin arrives to stop the fighting; and later, in front of everyone, he declares him no longer the King of Asgard and banishes him to our world; where he is to learn a lesson in humility. He is also stripped of the Hammer of Mjolnir, which happens to be the source of all his power, and he eventually lands on the ground in New Mexico; where he is eventually discovered by scientist Jane Foster—played sincerely by Natalie Portman. Foster, along with her colleagues Darcy Lewis, played by Kat Dennings, and Dr. Erik Selvig, played by Stellan Skarsgard, take Hemsworth’s fallen God-Hero into their van and take him in for medical help; all the while not noticing the Hammer of Mjolnir cemented in stone and encased by a spell that only allows the laudable to remove it and embrace its power. Meanwhile, back in Asgard, Loki learns that he is actually not Odin's biological son; as he was discovered as an infant following a war with the Frost Giants years ago. Afte Loki confronts his father about the truth of his childhood, Hopkins’ character collapses; leading Loki to declare himself King. Meanwhile on Earth, Thor soon falls in love with Jane Foster; but still yearns to return to Asgard. And, throughout the film, Chris Hemsworth ensures a performance that allows audiences to cheer as he travels on his quest to redemption.
Image taken from http://www.comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Thor-Chris-Hemsworth.jpg
When watching “Thor”, it is great to see Chris Hemsworth’s character make the transition from being a foolhardy and revenge-seeking super-soldier; to becoming more reserved and respectful to his fellow man. At the start of the film, our protagonist is utterly blinded by over-confidence; particularly when he feels that he could defeat a stampede of monsters in the world of the Frost Giants. His character keeps fighting until he is surrounded by an army of enemies; only to be rescued by King Odin—who refuses his son’s urging to join him in battle. And, despite his pleas that he was only trying to defend Odin's honor, his over-ambition leads him to being scolded immensely by his father In other words, all our hero wanted to do was make his father proud; but, unfortunately, his actions brought about unexpectedly negative consequences.
However, it is some time after being banished to Earth that Chris Hemsworth’s Thor begins to understand compassion and deference. Upon meeting Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster, Thor is initially more-than-eager to return to his home world. Unfortunately, that means fighting a room full of hospital workers; and later, a group of agents working for the secretive military organization S.H.I.E.L.D. in a failed attempt to reclaim and utilize his powerful Hammer. It is through bonding and falling in love with Portman’s character that our hero is able to explore his softer side; thus beginning to understand compassion. And, when his brother unleashes his villainy onto Earth, Thor has to do what he can to ensure everyone's protection . And Chris Hemsworth’s overall performance keeps the audience on the edge of their seats; as he is obviously more-than-dedicated to his role.
But while Chris Hemsworth does a fine job portraying his hero, I believe that Tom Hiddleston gives a great performance as the villainous Loki as well. When it is revealed that he is not really the son of Hopkin’s character, Loki becomes consumed with rage; as he feels that he should have been declared the new King of Asgard. And from this point, you can see the fire in Hiddleston’s eyes as the actor gives his character a serious appetite for evil and conquest—by any means necessary. And all scenes that he shares with Chris Hemsworth’s character are well-executed; as the two actors face off against each other with great force and passion. In other words, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston are perfectly casted as their respective characters and all of their scenes are very emotional as well as full of action.
Image taken from http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/images/thor_interview_tom_hiddleston_loki_movie_2011.jpg
While Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston gave great performances throughout the film, there are, of course, some problems I had with the overall film. For instance, even though Natalie Portman did a good jop portraying Thor’s love interest Jane Foster, I wish she was given more screentime. Her scenes with Chris Hemsworth were well-performed and well-written; but I wish they had more scenes together. I also feel that Kat Dennings' and Stellan Skarsgard's roles could have been reducted a bit; so that more time could have been alotted to the relationship between Chris Hemsworth's and Natalie Portman's characters.
But perhaps the main problem I had with "Thor," would be the fact that Anthony Hopkins, while giving a fine and steadfast performance as King Odin, wasn's given anything spectacular to do; other than stripping Hemsworth’s Thor of his godly powers as well as revealing to Hiddleston’s Loki the truth about his past. Anthony Hopkins is a legendary actor and I was excited to see him in a movie based on a Marvel comic. However, I feel that he was mainly casted as a stunt to attract people who aren’t big comic book fans to see the film. It would have been great to observe Hopkin’s character participate in some of the action as well as engage in more scenes with Hemsworth’s and Hiddleston’s characters. But, unfortunately, that was not the case and I feel that any actor could have played his role.
Nevertheless, I can directly say that “Thor” was a comic book movie that not only entices audiences’ attention through action and captivating 3D footage; but, also through a solid story and a significant amount of sentiment. I am really looking forward to seeing Chris Hemsworth don the Hammer of Mjolnir once again in May 2012; when he stars alongside Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury in Director Joss Whedon’s adaptation of “The Avengers.” And, hopefully, we can get a well-written story to accompany such a high-profile film. For even though special effects and action-sequences are fascinating, nothing is more powerful than human emotion.
e-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Friday, May 6, 2011
From the Mind of Nate: My Opinion on The Upcoming 2011 MTV Movie Awards
I am a big fan of awards shows. I always love seeing celebrities being honored for performances that I find to be very professional and memorable. My spine always tingles with anticipation as the designated presenter reads the nominees for a specific award. In fact, there have even been times where I was very nervous to see whether or not my favorite nominee will emerge victorious. In other words, I always find that significant amount of suspense to be the most exciting aspect of any awards show. Sadly, there is one yearly gala that I am always able to figure out the exact winner the day that the nominations are officially announced to the public. Of course, I am talking about the MTV Movie Awards; the yearly celebration that honors movies aimed at the young people of America. Unfortunately, the winners are mostly personalities that are widely-known by the MTV audience; and that includes Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart-- aka the stars of the popular "Twilight" franchise. Because of this, I feel that there will be a very significant lack of suspense at on June 5 at 8:00pm. Thus, it is with a deep sadness that I say:
The 2011 MTV Movie Awards is Going To Be A Major Celebration for the Latest "Twilight" Film
When the MTV Movie Awards first started airing, it could have beenoriginally been thought of as “The Anti-Academy Awards;” as the winners tended to be action stars-- such as Arnold Schwatrzenager-- and comic performers-- such as Jim Carrey. There would always be elaborate and clever videos that parodied popular films at the time. It appeared that the ceremony was more focused on entertaining people and making them laugh. However, when the popular Stephenie Meyer-penned "Twilight" series became a film series; fans everywhere voted heavily to ensure that the teen-vampire love saga would become the top dog at the annual awards ceremony; as the first "Twilight" film won "Best Movie" and Stewart won "Best Actress"in 2009. Following these wins, it was definitely clear to see that the awards ceremony would have a new purpose: To Mostly Honor the "Twilight" Series.
Image taken from http://cdn.buzznet.com/media/jjr/headlines/2011/03/2011-mtv-movie-awards.jpg
This whole theory can be proven when considering the voting process from last year; and then looking at the nominees for this year's ceremony. In March 2010, viewers were encouraged to pick the candidates to be eligible to be officially nominated. This guided all the “Twilight” fanatics to frantically vote in order to ensure that Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner would be among the top choices to be appointed. And sure enough, the three performers were picked for the “Best Actor” and “Best Actress” categories. In addition, Stewart and Pattinson were also nominated in the “Best Kiss” group; and, to further demonstrate their undying love for the series, fans strongly make certain that “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” would be selected for the “Best Picture” category.
Then, in May 2010, all the enthusiasts of the “Twilight” series voted scrupulously so that their favorite young performers would crush the competition. And sure enough, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” won every field it was nominated for; thus making the voters’ dream come true. Thus, there was never an exciting moment when a winner was announced; as all viewers knew who would win when the presenter read the list of candidates. Because of the fans’ undying love for the teen-vampire franchise, high-grossing and critically-acclaimed films like “Avatar” and “The Hangover” did not stand a chance at winning in the “Best Movie” field.
Therefore, when observing this year’s nominees, it is clear as day to see that we are in for similar events to take place. When voters were able to choose the candidates for this year’s festivities, the latest “Twilight” film was listed in every major category; easily proving the movie’s chances of winning are very strong. For instance, by looking at the “Best Actor” assemblage, both Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner are nominated for their roles as vampire hunk Edward Cullen and the werewolf-transforming Jacob Black respectfully. Their fellow candidates Zac Efron for "Charle St. Cloud", Daniel Radcliffe for "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows: Part 1", and Academy Award Nominee Jesse Eissenberg for "The Social Network", stand no chance at winning; as the “Twilight” aficionados will have the ultimate say in the voting process.
Image taken from http://www.celebrity-mania.com/images/files/00020348.jpg
Then, when looking at the “Best Actress” category, it is more-then-possible that Kristen Stewart will materialize victoriously for her recital as “Twilight” heroine Bella Swan. I am more than certain that this is going to be her third win in a row in the "Best Actress" category; leaving me completely unexcited. In the past two years, we have seen Stewart be chosen over talented asctresses; such as Academy Award Nominee Taraji P. Henson for emotional performance in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in 2009 as well as Academy Award Winner Sandra Bullock for her strong acting in "The Blind Side" during last year's awards-- though it should be mentioned that tha leter did go on to win the prestigious MTV Generation Award. Nevertheless, we wil all witness Kristen Stewart go on to win the category again this year; ultimately rising above her fellow contenders Emma Watson for "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows: Part 1", Jennifer Anniston for "Just Go with It", Emma Stone for "Easy A", and Academy Award Winner Natalie Portman for "Black Swan". And, to echo what I said before, I already know that Kristen Stewart will win just by seeing her name and movie listed in this category. And the sad part is, the ceremony hasn't even taken place yet.
And just as the previous two installments went on to win in the "Best Film" category, it is more than likely that "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" will successfully win the top honor; thanks in large part to the obsessed fans. The other films in the category, "The Social Network", "Black Swan," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1," and "Inception" will undoubtedly lose; thus making the entire category a complete waste. In fact, since the whole ceremony is likely to revolve around awarding "Twilight" all the major awards, which will also include "Best Kiss," "Best Breakthrough Performance,"and "Best Fight," the whole night could possibly be thought of as a waste of time and a total lack of any suspense and thrills.
But, perhaps I am being too rash to judge the nature of the show a month before it broadcasts. After all, Saturday Night Live cast member Jason Sudeikis is emceeing the ceremony; and he is one of my favorite performers on the long-running comedy show; as he has a great stage presence and he also possesses great comic timing. His impression of Vice President Joe Biden is always hilarious; and his rapid-fire delivery in “Hall Pass” was very funny. And, as I always like when the MTV Movie Awards spoof the nominated films, I’m sure he will definitely make the evening worth watching.
Image taken from http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWTyuW43ItE/Tbh2GBFvJAI/AAAAAAAABXk/17-F5STg86s/s1600/jason-sudeikis-mtv-movie-awards-2011-host.jpg
Furthermore, I always enjoy the fact that no one knows what sketches or events will take place during the course of the evening. The one thing I loved about last year’s ceremony was when Tom Cruise reprised his foul-mouthed “Tropic Thunder” studio-executive character Les Grossman; appearing in a pre-taped opening as well as performing an elaborate dance number with Jennifer Lopez. That really was truly unexpected; and it was a nice break from an otherwise-predictable night.
Finally, as a lover of comedy, I'm looking forward to see who wins the coveted "Best Comedic Performance" award. I cannot judge Adam Sandler and Ashton Kutcher on their performances in "Just Go with It" and "No Strings Attached" respectfully; as I did not see these films in theaters. But, I can honestly say that Emma Stone's performance in "Easy A" was more engaging and memorable than Russel Brand's loud and over-flashy recital in "Get Him to The Greek" as well as Zach Galifianakis' forced and unenjoyable stint in "Due Date." Therefore, this category is definitely one that will offer excitement during the evening.
Thus, maybe there will be some unexpected surprises throughout the ceremony; even in terms of the awards. Perhaps there will be a surprise win in one of the categories. There could even be some unexpected guests that might show up as well. And for those of you who are wondering, I will be live-blogging the occasion on June 5. I will be covering the whole night; reacting to the winners and losers and commenting on who appears. For even though most of the winners are easily predictable, it could possibly end up being a fascinating night for movie lovers.
To see the full list of nominations, go to http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2011/
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@hotmail.com
The 2011 MTV Movie Awards is Going To Be A Major Celebration for the Latest "Twilight" Film
When the MTV Movie Awards first started airing, it could have beenoriginally been thought of as “The Anti-Academy Awards;” as the winners tended to be action stars-- such as Arnold Schwatrzenager-- and comic performers-- such as Jim Carrey. There would always be elaborate and clever videos that parodied popular films at the time. It appeared that the ceremony was more focused on entertaining people and making them laugh. However, when the popular Stephenie Meyer-penned "Twilight" series became a film series; fans everywhere voted heavily to ensure that the teen-vampire love saga would become the top dog at the annual awards ceremony; as the first "Twilight" film won "Best Movie" and Stewart won "Best Actress"in 2009. Following these wins, it was definitely clear to see that the awards ceremony would have a new purpose: To Mostly Honor the "Twilight" Series.
Image taken from http://cdn.buzznet.com/media/jjr/headlines/2011/03/2011-mtv-movie-awards.jpg
This whole theory can be proven when considering the voting process from last year; and then looking at the nominees for this year's ceremony. In March 2010, viewers were encouraged to pick the candidates to be eligible to be officially nominated. This guided all the “Twilight” fanatics to frantically vote in order to ensure that Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner would be among the top choices to be appointed. And sure enough, the three performers were picked for the “Best Actor” and “Best Actress” categories. In addition, Stewart and Pattinson were also nominated in the “Best Kiss” group; and, to further demonstrate their undying love for the series, fans strongly make certain that “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” would be selected for the “Best Picture” category.
Then, in May 2010, all the enthusiasts of the “Twilight” series voted scrupulously so that their favorite young performers would crush the competition. And sure enough, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” won every field it was nominated for; thus making the voters’ dream come true. Thus, there was never an exciting moment when a winner was announced; as all viewers knew who would win when the presenter read the list of candidates. Because of the fans’ undying love for the teen-vampire franchise, high-grossing and critically-acclaimed films like “Avatar” and “The Hangover” did not stand a chance at winning in the “Best Movie” field.
Therefore, when observing this year’s nominees, it is clear as day to see that we are in for similar events to take place. When voters were able to choose the candidates for this year’s festivities, the latest “Twilight” film was listed in every major category; easily proving the movie’s chances of winning are very strong. For instance, by looking at the “Best Actor” assemblage, both Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner are nominated for their roles as vampire hunk Edward Cullen and the werewolf-transforming Jacob Black respectfully. Their fellow candidates Zac Efron for "Charle St. Cloud", Daniel Radcliffe for "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows: Part 1", and Academy Award Nominee Jesse Eissenberg for "The Social Network", stand no chance at winning; as the “Twilight” aficionados will have the ultimate say in the voting process.
Image taken from http://www.celebrity-mania.com/images/files/00020348.jpg
Then, when looking at the “Best Actress” category, it is more-then-possible that Kristen Stewart will materialize victoriously for her recital as “Twilight” heroine Bella Swan. I am more than certain that this is going to be her third win in a row in the "Best Actress" category; leaving me completely unexcited. In the past two years, we have seen Stewart be chosen over talented asctresses; such as Academy Award Nominee Taraji P. Henson for emotional performance in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in 2009 as well as Academy Award Winner Sandra Bullock for her strong acting in "The Blind Side" during last year's awards-- though it should be mentioned that tha leter did go on to win the prestigious MTV Generation Award. Nevertheless, we wil all witness Kristen Stewart go on to win the category again this year; ultimately rising above her fellow contenders Emma Watson for "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows: Part 1", Jennifer Anniston for "Just Go with It", Emma Stone for "Easy A", and Academy Award Winner Natalie Portman for "Black Swan". And, to echo what I said before, I already know that Kristen Stewart will win just by seeing her name and movie listed in this category. And the sad part is, the ceremony hasn't even taken place yet.
And just as the previous two installments went on to win in the "Best Film" category, it is more than likely that "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" will successfully win the top honor; thanks in large part to the obsessed fans. The other films in the category, "The Social Network", "Black Swan," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1," and "Inception" will undoubtedly lose; thus making the entire category a complete waste. In fact, since the whole ceremony is likely to revolve around awarding "Twilight" all the major awards, which will also include "Best Kiss," "Best Breakthrough Performance,"and "Best Fight," the whole night could possibly be thought of as a waste of time and a total lack of any suspense and thrills.
But, perhaps I am being too rash to judge the nature of the show a month before it broadcasts. After all, Saturday Night Live cast member Jason Sudeikis is emceeing the ceremony; and he is one of my favorite performers on the long-running comedy show; as he has a great stage presence and he also possesses great comic timing. His impression of Vice President Joe Biden is always hilarious; and his rapid-fire delivery in “Hall Pass” was very funny. And, as I always like when the MTV Movie Awards spoof the nominated films, I’m sure he will definitely make the evening worth watching.
Image taken from http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWTyuW43ItE/Tbh2GBFvJAI/AAAAAAAABXk/17-F5STg86s/s1600/jason-sudeikis-mtv-movie-awards-2011-host.jpg
Furthermore, I always enjoy the fact that no one knows what sketches or events will take place during the course of the evening. The one thing I loved about last year’s ceremony was when Tom Cruise reprised his foul-mouthed “Tropic Thunder” studio-executive character Les Grossman; appearing in a pre-taped opening as well as performing an elaborate dance number with Jennifer Lopez. That really was truly unexpected; and it was a nice break from an otherwise-predictable night.
Finally, as a lover of comedy, I'm looking forward to see who wins the coveted "Best Comedic Performance" award. I cannot judge Adam Sandler and Ashton Kutcher on their performances in "Just Go with It" and "No Strings Attached" respectfully; as I did not see these films in theaters. But, I can honestly say that Emma Stone's performance in "Easy A" was more engaging and memorable than Russel Brand's loud and over-flashy recital in "Get Him to The Greek" as well as Zach Galifianakis' forced and unenjoyable stint in "Due Date." Therefore, this category is definitely one that will offer excitement during the evening.
Thus, maybe there will be some unexpected surprises throughout the ceremony; even in terms of the awards. Perhaps there will be a surprise win in one of the categories. There could even be some unexpected guests that might show up as well. And for those of you who are wondering, I will be live-blogging the occasion on June 5. I will be covering the whole night; reacting to the winners and losers and commenting on who appears. For even though most of the winners are easily predictable, it could possibly end up being a fascinating night for movie lovers.
To see the full list of nominations, go to http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2011/
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@hotmail.com
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