Chuck Archive at iconogeek

Author Archive for Chuck

You’re officially on notice.

Published

on July 11, 2008

in TV

. 1 Comment

Seriously, if you haven’t been watching Burn Notice, now’s the time to get on board. In its second season, this USA series is light, fun and action packed. Kind of like a cross between MacGyver, the A-Team, and Magnum PI the show features Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Weston, a covert operative burned by the CIA. Left out in the field, with no resources, his accounts frozen and dumped in Miami (his hometown) Michael has nothing but his wits and a few friends to get his life back on track. Michael is a classic hero-type, trying to solve the puzzle of his burn notice, while helping out Joe Average with his worse-than-average-problems.

The show delivers a lot of heart, great stories and humor with an excellent cast that reads right out of the nostalgia fanbook. First up, Sam Axe played by…wait for it…Bruce Campbell, a boozing, philandering ex-seal. He’s the trustee side-kick and confidant. The girlfriend, played deliciously by Gabrielle Anwar (”Things to do in Denver when your dead”, and the cancelled-too-soon “John Doe”) is tough, sexy, smart, and tough. She’s the on again, off again flame and all-around goto girl.

Sharon Gless shows up as Michael’s chain-smoking, neurotic, psycho-somatic mother. Excellent job, and it’s great to see a veteran actress of Gless’s caliber on the screen again.

The thing I really like about this show is that it is total escapism. It’s a great balance for LOST with all it’s heady intrigue and mystery. Burn Notice allows you to jump in at any time, and enjoy the ride. Much like X-Files, it has a longer running mythology (why was Michael burned, who did it, what do they want him for) with episode long stories that start, fulfill and end satisfyingly. The show has a great visual style with some touches of Guy Ritchie thrown in (but not too much) and all those great whooshing sound effects to keep it fun. Oh and Jeffrey Donovan’s cheeky, dead-pan VO lends great exposition without being corny.

Oh and for those of you STILL not interested, Tricia Helfer has made a cameo as one of the Burners (maybe 2nd in command?). Not sure what side of her bread is buttered, but judging by the hoops she’s had Michael jump through, it can’t be the good side.

All-in-all I’ll give this show a solid 8. Real good TV.

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The perfect gift for Mrs. iconogeek.

Published

Chuck

on July 9, 2008

in Gadgets and Just Cool

. 0 Comments

For all you geeks out there looking for the perfect gift for your girlfriend/wife/significant other. I found these on ebay and they’re just too unique. I got a set for the wife and she loved ‘em. POINTS! Dig it!

Piggy Pig Earbuds on ebay

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He is the man.

Published

Chuck

on June 29, 2008

in Movies and Uncategorized

. 2 Comments

Yep, James McAvoy is totally the man. And for that matter so is Timur Bekmambetov. Jesus Christmas, I just saw Wanted and I gotta say it kicked much ass. I had very high hopes for this movie and I was not disappointed. I have to admit, I wasn’t quite sure McAvoy could pull it off. He plays great doe-eyed innocence, but action hero? Well, let me just say, he f’n pulls it off, and pulls it off big.

The premise works and I dug it - a millenia-old order of assassins working to keep fate on track (this does deviate a bit from the comic’s plot - but they did a great job in adapting it to the screen). I was able to accept the mystical aspect of it (which they leave largely unexplained) and just completely immerse myself in this film. It handled exposition rather well, with a cheeky VO á la Blade Runner and got into the action at just the right moment. The pacing felt great, the acting was spot on and the effects were tight. Bekmambetov takes John Geata’s bullet time and pushes it even further.

The action is crazy-over-the-top with amazing chase sequences that tip their hats to Point Break, The French Connection, and the Matrix. In addition, you’ll see tons of little in-jokes like a VERY Han-in-Carbonite scene about half-way through the flick. I think my favorite was the appearance of Konstantin Khabensky as one of the Fraternity members.

Angelina Jolie is, of-course, awesome, any time you need a beautiful ass-kicking chick with a heart, she’s your go-to-girl. And Common even makes a great turn as the “Gunsmith”. And if your life won’t be complete until you hear Morgan Freeman say “Shoot this mother-fucker” well then…you’ve come to the right movie. I always like when he is in these mentoring style roles, even though this is nowhere near the gravitas of Se7en, he pulls them off really well. Terence Stamp makes an appearance as well and he plays it straight, not over-the-top (and I always love when General Zod shows up)

Ya know, I think Bekmambetov may have some father issues now that I think about it - lots of father figures in this flick, but I think that’s a topic for the podcast. Before I go, I gotta drop an >i< score of a 9 on this one. Action, humor, in-jokes, fun - it’s got it all - and coupled with great direction, effects AND sound. Go see it, you won’t be left wanting…except for a sequel.

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Somewhere over the rainbow, things are pretty damned cool.

Published

Chuck

on May 30, 2008

in TV

. 3 Comments

OK, I’ll post more later after I re-watch the episode, but it was damn cool. I gotta say, I feel satisfied with the episode. I’m not chomping at the bit for next season because I really just want to mull over EVERYTHING for the next couple of months and get prepared. They gave SO much info it’s a bit overwhelming.

****** POSSIBLE SPOILERS ***********

First tidbit: the call that Kate received was backwards. Here’s the reversed audio.

Second Tidbit: Alternate endings to hide who was in the coffin.

Random Thoughts:

Dharma’s doing space/time experiments - I’m curious to read timelooptheory.com‘ s take on the new space/time info and so should you.
Michael is dead. Jacob’s emissary (Christian) tells Michael he “can go now.” This does not mean, “get off the boat,” it means he is no longer in service of the island, he is released to do what he came there to do…die.
F’you, Jin is still alive.
I must say again. Ben Linus is the man. So over on Dube’s blog she theorizes that Ben moved the island forward in TIME, not space about 3 years. I think I agree with the time thing, but not the 3 years. Does anyone (Cesar) have info on when Ben appeared in the desert? Also, Ben took out a special forces guy. Come on seriously…he’s badass.

OK, more later, too much to think about. Oh yeah, this ep gets a 10. No question. Cliffhangers, answers, questions…all good.