Monday, April 25, 2011
Flashpoint Season 2
Flashpoint is a rare commodity, a Canadian production that has made it big in the US. What is even more amazing is the fact that it makes no apology for the fact that it is set in Downtown Toronto regularly showing off the city skyline. Toronto institutions such as Osgoode Hall, High Park, and Queens Park figure regularly. Renaming the iconic Maple Leaf Gardens however seems gratuitous, changing the name must have been part of the deal that allowed them to shoot inside.
The series has the usual black SUV’s, chase scenes and screaming sirens, the guns, high tech equipment and uniforms; however with one or two exceptions it does not have particularly sexy officers. Another uniquely Canadian aspect of the show is the fact that although all these officers are expert marksmen in all cases they attempt to talk their way out tense situations as a first resort rather than use weapons.
That a major character gets killed off in Season 2, and in particular one who was an ethnic minority would seem to signal a desire on the part of the actor to move on.
The series has the usual black SUV’s, chase scenes and screaming sirens, the guns, high tech equipment and uniforms; however with one or two exceptions it does not have particularly sexy officers. Another uniquely Canadian aspect of the show is the fact that although all these officers are expert marksmen in all cases they attempt to talk their way out tense situations as a first resort rather than use weapons.
That a major character gets killed off in Season 2, and in particular one who was an ethnic minority would seem to signal a desire on the part of the actor to move on.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Although I deeply resent being manipulated into buying two DVD’s to watch the seventh and final chapter of the Harry Potter saga I must admit that the the narrative is greatly compressed and telescoped in this movie version. Anyone who has not recently read the book will have some difficulty following the plot. For example the wedding at the burrow does not make clear whose nuptials are being celebrated unless you catch the banner reading Bill and Flora which appears in the background for only a few brief frames. I had to run the scene a second time paying close attention to catch it.
Harry and Ronald would have been lost without Hermoine for many reasons not the least of which would be her purse. The books exploit many clichés not the least of which would be the amount of gear a woman carries around with her in her purse. I’ve marveled at the size of the interior of the tents the Weasleys have used but this architectural marvel appeared from Hermoine’s reticule along with changes of clothes and all else the guys needed and also contains the lass’ considerable library. But for magic she’d need the strength of Hagrid just to carry it around.
The principle characters have grown seven years from Harry’s initial appearance at Hogworts as an eleven-year-old. Hermoine as well as Ron’s younger sister Ginny have developed into full-figured young women. Ron has filled out to become the kind of hunk one could believe Hermoine would fall for. Harry has grown taller and lost a great deal of the little boy vulnerability that initially made him look so lovable but he retains that look of a misfit who lacks self-assurance and an awareness of his own abilities or how to use them. He is the youngest of the trio and it shows. Before he leaves his muggle home on Privott Lane he has a last look into his closet under the stairs.
As the story progresses Harry continues to lose the people who once supported him. The process begins with his parents killed when he was an infant; continued with the murder of his guardian Sirius Black; his mentor Dumbledoor; and most recently even the elf he freed from the Malfoys. Since this is part one of a two-parter everything ends in limbo, we’ll need to wait to see how things are resolved in part 2.
Harry and Ronald would have been lost without Hermoine for many reasons not the least of which would be her purse. The books exploit many clichés not the least of which would be the amount of gear a woman carries around with her in her purse. I’ve marveled at the size of the interior of the tents the Weasleys have used but this architectural marvel appeared from Hermoine’s reticule along with changes of clothes and all else the guys needed and also contains the lass’ considerable library. But for magic she’d need the strength of Hagrid just to carry it around.
The principle characters have grown seven years from Harry’s initial appearance at Hogworts as an eleven-year-old. Hermoine as well as Ron’s younger sister Ginny have developed into full-figured young women. Ron has filled out to become the kind of hunk one could believe Hermoine would fall for. Harry has grown taller and lost a great deal of the little boy vulnerability that initially made him look so lovable but he retains that look of a misfit who lacks self-assurance and an awareness of his own abilities or how to use them. He is the youngest of the trio and it shows. Before he leaves his muggle home on Privott Lane he has a last look into his closet under the stairs.
As the story progresses Harry continues to lose the people who once supported him. The process begins with his parents killed when he was an infant; continued with the murder of his guardian Sirius Black; his mentor Dumbledoor; and most recently even the elf he freed from the Malfoys. Since this is part one of a two-parter everything ends in limbo, we’ll need to wait to see how things are resolved in part 2.
