IT (1990)

As I prepare to go see the new blockbuster IT, I decided that I wanted to venture back into the mind of Stephen King for a few days this week. So I figured that there was no better way to end this week than a trip back to 1990 for the King classic IT!

Plot/ In 1960, seven pre-teen outcasts fight an evil demon who poses as a child-killing clown. Thirty years later, they reunite to stop the demon once and for all when it returns to their hometown.

As I prepared this week to go see IT, I don’t think it would be prudent to see the film unless I revisited the 1990 miniseries that made people fear clowns. First off, Tim Curry is amazing as Pennywise, interpreting the darkness of the evil clown perfectly. Based on a huge novel by Stephen King, the adaptation was sound; striking a nice balance between the materials from the novel that was necessary and unnecessary. Yes, some of it was a touch bizarre, but that fit the storyline. Other than that, the cast was interesting and because it was a made for television event the lack of gore and onscreen violence is to be expected. Unfortunately, the production values reek of lower quality television, the visuals are average at best do not capture the atmosphere in the way that it should, and the performances are a little flat. In fact, because of the run-time, it is debatable on whether or not the film is too long or short, an answer that even watching it again has me questioning. The worst part is the ending, which was somewhat of a letdown in comparison to the craziness from the source material. In the end, this was a fun and nostalgic look back at a miniseries that did leave an imprint on society. While it is rough in some spots, I feel that it is a great primer for the movie I am about to see. It may not be perfect, but if you haven’t seen it, give it a shot.

XIII: The Conspiracy (2008)

With my homework out of the way last night, I figured it was time to relax. After searching Netflix for something fun, I decided that I needed some action to help get my blood flowing. After some inner debate, I decided that XIII: The Conspiracy from 2008 was just what I needed.

Plot/ The first female US President Sally Sheridan is shot dead by a sniper during her Veterans Day speech. Her assassin narrowly escapes the scene with his life, national security hot on his heels - or so it seems. On the run, clinging to one desperate clue after another, XIII begins to piece back his life, fragments of his memory.

I watched this mini-series yesterday and was rather surprised by it. Based on a graphic novel, this two-part mini-series is comparable to the Bourne series, although being made for television, does not pack the same punch. The performances are solid; the storyline/plot believable, and the action sequences worked and featured some sound cinematography. Yes, there are some head scratching moments, there is some choppy editing, and the violence was toned down (remember television), but all in all it was worth watching. In the end, if you are searching for some mindless action with a conspiracy/political themed backdrop, this one should at least entertain you. Yes, it is not perfect, but I have definitely seen much worse.

Houdini (2014)

After spending the night deep in the Mesopotamian and Egyptian myths and legends of creation, I needed some down time. To help ease my mind, I decided to venture into miniseries mode, by watching the History Channel biopic Houdini.  

Plot/ Follow the man behind the magic as he finds fame, engages in espionage, battles spiritualists and encounters the greatest names of the era, from U.S. presidents to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Grigori Rasputin.

Biopic miniseries are always tough. On one hand, they must have an entertainment value that keep fans interested; on the other hand, they often accomplish this by embellishing on reality. That was definitely the case with this one, as it is takes a modern approach to a man that has always fascinated society. Harry Houdini was and is larger than life, but this series embellished his legend more than any other attempt at telling his story. Yes, the performances (especially Adrien Brody) were outstanding, the effects were solid, and the overall feel is entertaining. Unfortunately, this miniseries did not capture the true sadness that permeated through Houdini and his life, and did a disservice to the true story of greatness. In the end, this one would be a great flick to introduce Houdini into ones life, and create a fascination for one to do further research into the legend. It is worth watching for entertainment purposes, but not for a true biographical picture.

V (1983)

After some horror, action and thrillers over the weekend, I decided to find something different to watch. In my search, it was an awesome surprise to run across something from my youth. In fact, it was one of the first miniseries that I can remember watching; the alien invasion flick V from 1983.

Plot/ When aliens come to Earth to ask for our help, a few suspicious humans discover their horrific true intentions and prepare to resist.

Kicking back last night, it was a blast watching the original two-part miniseries V commercial free. While the special effects and some of the dialogue was dated, it became even clearer that the miniseries was ahead of its time. Sure, no giant spaceships have become known over major cities, but, the undertone of the storyline is extremely relevant in today’s tyrannical society. Of course, many believe that V was just a Sci-Fi take on the Holocaust, which is understandable with some of the symbolism, to me; I saw Agenda 21 and the “sustainability” rhetoric that is being pushed by the United Nations and the globalist backers. The overall feel of the movie is tremendous, the acting solid and the storyline really worked (maybe had they not tried to modernize it, the reboot would have worked). More importantly, it kept you entertained throughout and left you wanting more. With the rise of tyranny around every corner and the rise of informational resistance is growing, and like 1984, V could be a great primer in defeating the global takeover. 

Bag of Bones (2011)

I love a chance to watch something different, especially when there is nothing on television. After finishing my first article for Steelers101.com last night, I decided to finish watching the A&E mini-series Bag of Bones based on the work of famed horror maestro Stephen King.

Plot/ Best-selling novelist Mike Noonan cannot stop grieving after his wife Jo's and their unborn child's sudden death. Writer's block and nightmares force him to return to the couple's former summer home beside a lake in western Maine. Once there, his ability to write quickly returns, in addition to more nightmares. At the house, he continually gets visits from the spirit of a blues singer, Sarah Tidwell. Through her visits, his nightmarish dreams, and clues hidden in his previously unpublished work, he learns truths about himself and the town.

When I saw the preview for this, I did not know what to expect. It is no secret that for whatever reason Stephen King novels rarely translate onto film. That is not saying that they are not entertaining, because most are, they just lose something in the translation. I had never read Bag of Bones, so in watching it, I had no comparison and I actually liked what I saw. Yes, there were some flaws, the acting was uneven, the cinematography/direction so-so, and it is chalked full of cliché moments, but overall it was entertaining. For me, the plot kept me interested and there was some violence and gore.  In the end, I felt this was a decent mini-series, I would not run out and buy it when it finally hits DVD, but I would watch it for free if it was on.