by Melinda Snodgrass | May 15, 2014 | TV & Movies
There are just so many way THE BLACKLIST is a mess, but I’ll try to focus my thoughts about this show that has me yelling at the screen every time I watch a recorded episode. Problem one is the fact James Spader completely outclasses everybody else in the cast. If they are going to go with a larger than life star they need to give him worthy co-stars. The female lead in particular is just terrible. She seems to have two expressions and neither of them are very interesting. The problem...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Apr 18, 2014 | TV & Movies
I’ve been pondering on AGENTS OF SHIELD ever since the follow up episode to THE WINTER SOLDIER. I think the show is finally finding its footing. Sad that it had to happen this late in the season leaving its fate in doubt with ABC. I hope they give it another chance next season, but we’ll have to see. I still get very frustrated with the show and the writing staff for making the expected, obvious choices, but at least there is some grit, conflict and fire between the people now and that is...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Apr 6, 2014 | TV & Movies
For the first time in many months I actually drove to a theater and went to see a movie. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER. I had really been looking forward to this film since the first movie is one of my favorite superhero movies ever because of the lovely character moments and it’s thoughtful analysis of war, bravery and why we fight. I particularly liked the moment where Dr. Erskin is examining the scrawny Steve Rogers and asks in a faintly mocking tone about how he wants to go and...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Jan 6, 2014 | TV & Movies
I’ve been reflecting for several days as to why I found HER so singularly unsatisfying, and frankly dull, and I think I’ve pinpointed the issues. The first and obvious one is that this felt like an interesting question that had been asked and answered years ago by the science fiction community and for readers and writers in the field this really was old hat. When I attended the AI conference a number of years ago the issues of user bonding with their AI helpers was already under...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 29, 2013 | TV & Movies
I saw The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug last Saturday, but I’ve been really busy with company and cooking Christmas dinner and in general having fun so I’m just getting around to writing up my thoughts. Also, I just didn’t care that much. The movie neither pleased me or pissed me off so I didn’t feel compelled to say something. And that’s the problem — it just left me feeling… well, meh. It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t good. It just...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Nov 22, 2013 | TV & Movies
Partly because of my deep mash on Loki I decided to stream the first THOR movie to my X-Box and then watch my DVD of THE AVENGERS. I’m also going to give the Thor sequel another look when I don’t have people talking in their outside voices directly behind me. Watching both films gave me some interesting insights about writing in general and these films in particular. First the screenwriter(s) Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz & Don Payne or at least one of them seemed to get that at its heart...
