Daily Archives: January 24, 2008
The Twilight Zone: Vol. 3 (1962)
NETFLIX SYNOPSIS: Creator Rod Serling‘s long-running, Emmy-winning television series brought science fiction to the masses. Viewers enjoyed the twisted, often-humorous mysteries as well as the show’s thinly masked social commentary and philosophical discussions. This disc features the classic episodes “Steel,” “A Game of Pool,” “Walking Distance” and “Kick the Can.”
REVIEW: This group of episodes isn’t quite as good as the ones in Vol. 2, but still well worth watching for TZ fans. “Steel,” written by Richard “I Am Legend” Matheson, features Lee Marvin as the manager of an over-the-hill robot boxer. “A Game of Pool” stars Jack “Odd Couple” Klugman as a crack pool player who faces his next challenge from beyond the grave. “Walking Distance,” written by Rod Serling himself, involves a man returning to his hometown after 25 years to find that things haven’t changed much, although he does encounter a young Ron “Opie” Howard. “Kick the Can” has a bunch of senior citizens who become convinced that playing kick the can will rejuvenate them. “Steel” and “A Game of Pool” are considered classics by most fans, “Walking Distance” is a bit dry but is considered to be perhaps the most personal script ever written by Serling, and “Kick the Can” might put you to sleep. A solid collection for fans of the series.
HAWK
The Namesake (2007)
NETFLIX SYNOPSIS: While he respects his immigrant parents (Irfan Khan and Tabu) and their decision to rear him in his United States birthplace, Gogol Ganguli (Kal Penn) is torn between Indian traditions and the modern Bostonian lifestyle. Jacinda Barrett and Zuleikha Robinson also star in director Mira Nair‘s thought-provoking coming-of-age drama, which explores first-generation Americans’ delicate dance between culture and identity.
REVIEW: I almost didn’t make it through this film, so slow was the first 35 minutes or so. Patience is rewarded, however, once the kids grow up and we get to explore the gap between first-generation immigrants and their children. This is director Mira Nair’s most solid effort overall, with terrific performances from the cast and haunting cinematography. Stick with it — it will stick with you.
4 stars
HAWK
Son of Lassie (1945)
NETFLIX SYNOPSIS: This follow-up to Lassie Come Home takes place years later, with Peter Lawford and June Lockhart portraying the characters previously played by Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor. Joe (Lawford) joins the British air force at the height of World War II, and his canine buddy Lassie tags along. The two end up in enemy territory, and it’s Lassie who comes to Joe’s rescue. Meanwhile, Joe’s love, Priscilla (Lockhart), waits to hear from him.
REVIEW: In this bizarro-world sequel to the classic Lassie Come Home, Lassie’s son Laddie goes to war, searches all over Europe for his master, eventually finding him as they escape from behind enemy lines and return home together, AWOL I assume. I was surprised they didn’t have a chance to visit Emperor Hirohito in Japan along with way, but maybe they get there in the next sequel.
2.5 stars
HAWK
The Road to Guantanamo (2006)
NETFLIX SYNOPSIS: Director Michael Winterbottom presents the true story of three British Muslim men, known as “the Tipton Three,” who were unjustly arrested and held for more than two years in the U.S. detention camp at Guantanamo Bay. By blending dramatic re-enactments, interviews with the surviving men and archive news footage, Winterbottom’s Independent Spirit Award-winning docudrama delivers a chilling and shocking exposé of out-of-control security measures.
REVIEW: This docudrama purports to explore the story behind the arrest and imprisonment of three English Muslims who just happened to be hanging out in Afghanistan with insurrectionists. Interviews with participants are intermingled with dramatic re-enactments. Trouble is, we’re aware almost immediately that the implausible story just doesn’t hold water. We’re expected to believe that these young men crossed the border into Afghanistan while the US was attacking in late 2002 just for the nan bread? Please! Only the most bleeding-heart, anti-American will view this ridiculous story with anything but skepticism. One of the men has since admitted that he visited an Islamic training camp and learned to fire an AK-47, and another refused a lie detector test. I’m sure there are better cases of American military abuse to explore.
2 stars
HAWK
Netflix Cinemajig 