Take 4 TV: Miracles and Mysteries

Miracles: The Complete Series (2003)

The Basics: Miracles is one of those ill-fated television series that had maybe six or seven episodes make it on the air, but was cancelled due to poor ratings. It is a drama/scifi/thriller that stars Skeet Ulrich, Angus Macfadyen and Marisa Ramirez.

What’s Going on Here?: Paul Callan works for the Catholic Church, investigating supposed religious miracles, and using stringent scientific method to identify whether the event is indeed miraculous…or if it can be explained through other means. After investigating the case of a young boy who seems to have the ability to heal the sick and wounded, he ends up at odds with the church, and goes to work for a mysterious organization that also investigates strange happenings…but for the purpose of saving mankind.

Random Trivia: The show is based on an original screenplay by Michael Petroni that had been purchased by Spyglass Entertainment. When Spyglass decided to turn the screenplay into a television series, they hired Richard Hatem to adapt it into long-form format. Petroni and Hatem share credit as the shows creators

Curt’s Take: Worth Considering – I really enjoyed this show while it was on TV back in the day, and was glad to have the opportunity to check out all the episodes that had been produced, but weren’t able to make it on the air. It’s sort of like The X-Files, but with a more supernatural bent than science fiction. In The X-Files, you’re always wondering if aliens are involved. In Miracles, the big question is whether evil is involved. Anyway, the main reason I wanted to review this was because of the episode called “The Friendly Skies.” A plane vanishes into thin air right before landing…and then several minutes later it reappears in mid-flight. Upon landing, the plane and its passengers (several of whom are exhibiting strange behavior) are quarantined by the government, and Paul and his colleagues are brought in to aid in the investigation. It’s one of the most moving television episodes of any program I’ve ever seen…do yourself a favor and rent the first disc just to see this one episode.

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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984)

The Basics: This 13-episode British-produced crime/mystery television series stars Jeremy Brett and David Burke as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (respectively).

What’s Going On Here?: If you’re not familiar with who Sherlock Holmes is, I’m afraid there’s no help for you. Each episode is an hour-long dramatization of one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous stories of the great consulting detective, with such famous cases as “The Speckled Band,” “The Dancing Men,” and “The Red-Headed League.”

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Detective; Sherlock Holmes; Based on Short Story; Private Detective; Victorian Era

Curt’s Take: Not a Priority – Now, I’ve always liked the tales from the Holmes universe. And it was kind of cool seeing dramatizations of some of the stories I’ve read. They are pretty faithful to the original stories, for the most part, but they do move pretty damn slowly. The look and feel is definitely dated to the early 80’s, and it isn’t that exciting to watch. Plus, after you watch enough of these consecutively, you start to be able to be as intuitive as the great detective himself in figuring out what’s going on. I’d really only recommend checking out any part of this series if 1) you’re a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s work and 2) if there’s a story that you’re just aching to see brought to the small screen.

Take 4 TV: The Black Adder...and More

The Black Adder…and Sequels (1983 – 1999)

What’s Going On: In 1983, the BBC aired a six episode comedy called The Black Adder, which featured the story of Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh (played by Mr. Bean’s Rowan Atkinson), during the reign of Richard IV (his father). With his faithful servant Baldrick and his moronic compatriot Lord Percy, Edmund (who takes the nickname “The Black Adder” to sound more mysterious and cunning), conceives of plot after failed plot to gain power in his father’s household.

Three years later, the BBC aired Blackadder II. This six episode series takes place further in the future, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and follows the life of Lord Edmund Blackadder (again, played by Atkinson), supposedly a descendent of the original Duke of Edinburgh…now a courtier of the Queen. He still has a Baldrick and a Percy at hand to help him out (descendents of the originals, it is assumed), and he is still hungry for power…and just as useless at gaining it.

Finally, bring on Blackadder the Third and Blackadder Goes Forth, where Atkinson plays two more Edmund Blackadders: respectively, a butler to George (the Prince Regent of Wales) and a British military captain during World War One. Baldrick is back in both series, but Percy is replaced by Prince George (and then Lieutenant George in the fourth installment). At the end of all this, in 1999, a special entitled Blackadder Back & Forth was filmed, which features a time-traveling member of the Blackadder line that visits the past…and the lives of his descendents.

Top Plot Keywords from IMDB.com (The Black Adder): Dark Ages; Royalty; Great Britain; King Richard III; Cunning Plan

Random Trivia: Much of this series was shot on location, which resulted in a cost considered exorbitant at the time for a BBC series. As a result it was not renewed for a second series, however in 1984 the team was able to convince BBC One to produce a second series with the understanding that costs would have to be cut dramatically (for example Blackadder II was shot entirely in a studio).

And I Quote…(Blackadder the Third): Mrs. Miggins: “Bonjour, Monsiuer.” Blackadder: “Excuse me?” Mrs. Miggins [explaining]: “It's French.” Blackadder: “So is eating frogs, cruelty to geese and urinating on the streets.”

Curt’s Take: Worth Considering: I say this with one caveat…seeing the entire run of episodes is NOT something I recommend. Instead, what I’d say is “worth considering” is perhaps catching the first episode of each season (or “series,” as they say in Britain). You get a feel for the humor, it doesn’t wear thin on you, and (most importantly) you get to see how the series evolves over time…and through time. Each Blackadder is slightly different from the one before. Between the first two seasons, Rowan Atkinson does an especially astonishing job in transforming Blackadder from a sniveling Mr. Bean-like wimp to a confident, cunning player in the court of the Queen. By just sampling a handful of episodes as recommended, you get to gain a taste of what is an essential part of British television comedy, see the actual acting talent of Rowan Atkinson, and not have your brain leak out of your ears like I did by watching twenty-four episodes plus a reunion special over the course of a week.

Take 4: Five Letters, Starts with C...

Crash (2004)

The Basics: Oscar-winning crime/drama, featuring an all-star cast, including Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Ludacris, and Ryan Phillipe; Rated R for language, sexual content, and some violence

What’s Going On: The lives of a diverse group of strangers in Los Angeles collide and interweave in a masterfully orchestrated tale that explores race relations in the 21st century from the perspective of multiple cultural viewpoints

Top Plot Keywords from IMDB.com: Chinese American; Film with Ambiguous Title; Chop Shop; Black Cop; Hispanic

Random Trivia: Sandra Bullock was so committed to appearing in this film that bought her own plane ticket to fly to the set

And I Quote…: Anthony: “Look around! You couldn't find a whiter, safer or better lit part of this city. But this white woman sees two black guys, who look like UCLA students, strolling down the sidewalk and her reaction is blind fear. I mean, look at us! Are we dressed like gangbangers? Do we look threatening? No. Fact, if anybody should be scared, it's us: the only two black faces surrounded by a sea of over-caffeinated white people, patrolled by the triggerhappy LAPD. So, why aren't we scared?” Peter: “Because we have guns?” Anthony: “You could be right.”

Curt’s Take: Must See – Yes, it’s been several years since Crash has been in theaters and won Best Picture at the Oscar’s. I’m often a little late when it comes to these things…hell, it wouldn’t surprise me if I didn’t see No Country for Old Men until sometime in 2010. That having been said, I feel bad I waited until now to see this. Crash is a truly excellent film, and I normally don’t go for “pure” dramas. The story is so engaging, as are the overlapping stories of the various characters, that it’s really amazing to watch it play out. There’s no real main plot to follow, so just rent it, sit back, and watch the tales unfold. You’ll get sucked in without even realizing it.

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Crank (2006)

The Basics: Action/crime/drama starring Jason Statham; Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, sexuality, nudity and drug use

What’s Going On: Chev Chelios (a professional assassin played by Statham) wakes up to find that he has been injected with a poison that will kill him if his heart rate drops. He sets out to seek his vengeance and find a cure, but has to engage in plenty of bar fights, car chases and random acts of public sex in order to make sure his adrenaline levels stay up so he can keep going and going and going…

Top Plot Keywords from IMDB.com: Extreme Violence; Energy Drink; Black Comedy; Red Bull; Head Butt

Random Trivia: Crank has a number of references to 80's arcade games. In the opening credits there are flashes of arcade boot-up sequences and the high score table of Robotron: 2084 is briefly displayed. Verona's sidekick is seen playing Berzerk in the car. The humanoid graphic of Berzerk is also displayed on the male toilet door Chev enters.

And I Quote…: Chev Chelios: I'm looking for something that begins with an E.” Pharmacist: “England?”

Curt’s Take: Worth Considering – I don’t know what it is about Jason Statham’s action movies, but (for the most part) they make damn good beer and popcorn flicks. Lots of action, interesting cinematography, and a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor. They’re not life-changing, award-winning films, mind you…but as far as attention-grabbing action films that don’t take themselves too seriously, they’re a good time, and Crank is no exception. Every now and then the film interrupts itself to remind the audience that Statham has to get his adrenaline going again, but other than those slightly jarring breaks, catch this if you’re just hanging out with some buddies.

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Chaos (1999)

The Basics: A Korean crime/mystery/thriller; Like many imports that never made it to U.S. screens, it is not rated.

What’s Going On: A banker has lunch with his wife, only to find that she vanished while he was paying the check. Later, he gets a call from a mysterious man claiming to have kidnapped his wife, demanding a ransom. Seems pretty basic…but not everything is as it seems in this film noir from the Far East. Be prepared to question everybody’s roles and motivations as a pretty decent mystery plays out in front of you…

Top Plot Keywords from IMDB.com: Kidnapping

Random Trivia: If you’ve seen Hitchcock’s Vertigo, you may recognize many similar themes and plot elements.

Curt’s Take: Worth Considering – I wasn’t too keen on this at first, but this film from overseas has so many complex layers that peel away as you watch it, it’s like a modern-day Hitchcock import from the East. I still have a few unanswered questions about everything that transpired, but think that another viewing might deal with this. Just be prepared for a film that switches character point-of-view and goes backward and forward in time…it’ll keep you on your toes, but once you get a feel for how deep this seemingly basic storyline runs, you’ll likely be hooked.

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Creep (2004)

The Basics: British horror/thriller, starring Franka Potente (of Run, Lola, Run and The Bourne Identity); Rated R for strong bloody horror violence (now there’s a fun phrase you don’t hear often), language, some drug use and sexual content

What’s Going On: A young party-girl gets trapped in London’s Underground subway system after hours, facing off against a sadistic killer.

Top Plot Keywords from IMDB.com: Throat Slitting; Stabbed in the Crotch; Impalement; Gore; Sliced in Two

Random Trivia: Advertising posters showing a bloody hand sliding down a London Underground train window were banned from the Underground as being in bad taste, even though scenes had been filmed with permission in disused stations on the Underground. Producer Julie Baines found this "highly amusing" and "a bit ludicrous," noting that the film is "not based on real events - if it is, we are all in trouble." The ban was later removed, although not in time for the film's British opening.

And I Quote…: Jimmy: “Homeless people don't go missing, homeless people are missing.”

Curt’s Take: Not a Priority – The only thing that this film has going it for it are some truly tense moments, and a fun little exploration of what it would be like to be trapped in the subterranean world of mass transit during the midnight hours. As in a typical horror film, you find yourself having little sympathy for the main character and other actors, who make one disastrously moronic decision after another. And it’s definitely pretty horrific at points (see “Keywords” above), so I wouldn’t go out and rent this one…but you might find yourself sucked in if channel surfing and bored.