Teevieo » Mini-Series

Generation Kill Brings War to the Home (Box Office)

Josh — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:00:45 +0000

Steven Bochco’s 2005 war drama Over There lasted one season before the plug was pulled. Fox probably got squeamish at the thought of a show getting too close to a war so real and controversial. There have been a glut of books on the current conflict in Iraq and it remains a daily news topic, but TV has kept its distance.David Simon and Ed Burns, the two men who brought us The Wire are venturing into uncharted territoy when they bring the book Generation Kill, by Rolling Stone contributor Evan Wright, to the small screen.The seven part miniseries will follow a band of marines during the opening days of the Iraqi invasion in 2003.Judging from this trailer, this is not going to be Band of Brothers for the next generation. Smart-ass dialogue and issues of the war’s early days will steal the show. Soldiers spending their own money to reinforce their humvees might seem like old news now, but in 2003, Wright was one of the first journalists to bring it to the public’s attention. Simon and Burns seem, for the most part, to be content to stay with the book in spirit, if not totally in content. Several Marines were disciplined and denied promotion after Wright’s articles (in Rolling Stone) and book were published. The reason: Wright quotes the men consistently criticizing their officers and the overall war plan.Simon and Burns appear to follow up on that idea. These Marines are not mindless drones doing their officers’ bidding, but thinking men who do their jobs despite the chaos and disorder of the situation.Rudy Reyes, one of the subjects in Wright’s book, will play himself in the mini-series.Generation Kill is coming to HBO in July.

New HBO Mini-Series Looks to History for Inspiration

Josh — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:56:28 +0000

Who said history wasn’t fun?

Well, I’m sure I have uttered those words at some point, but I was probably sitting in a high school classroom listening to the squeaky voice of Mr. Johansen as he droned on and on about some obscure treaty between the Ottoman empire and the leader of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Too bad they didn’t have HBO at school.

The station that brought you uncensored television and championship boxing now brings you a history lesson.

John Adams, the most obscure member of the founding father family, has had his life dramatized by HBO. The series begins tomorrow, but advanced praise has created a bit of a buzz. We know how the story will end, but, I for one, don’t know much about Adams. The previews are enough to make John Adams seem interesting. Paul Giamatti has some serious acting chops; as does Laura Linney, who will play his wife. All the other players are here as well, but Franklin, Washington, Jefferson will be relegated to supporting roles.

The bio-pic is based on the acclaimed biography of Adams by historian David McCullough. And, seeing as it will be broadcast on HBO, I’m expecting to see at least a glimpse of the gritty side of eighteenth century life.

Advanced reviews point to a script with elements of humor the offset the drama inherent in rebellion and nation building. I’m not sure if the history books will be re-written by John Adams but leave it to HBO to bring a story and a historical figure out of obscurity. Hopefully, my old high school history teacher,Mr. Johansen, will be tuning in.

A Sci-Fi Take on The Wizard of Oz

Josh — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:35:05 +0000

The Wizard of Oz, the original one, is a classic. For the late 1930s, the way the film was made and its underlying social commentary were cutting edge.

I don’t mind many of the Oz remakes that have come out over the years. Most pay homage to the original, not seeking to change things too much. Some, like Michael Jackson’s The Wiz, bend the L. Frank Baum story in new and fun ways.

December 2nd, the Sci-Fi channel will attempt go where no Dorothy has gone before:

This telling, titled The Tin Man takes place as a frustrated waitress, DG from Omaha, falls into O.Z. (The Outer Zone). It is an apocalyptic wasteland. She is accompanied on her journey by a bitter ex-cop (The Tin Man, in this telling named Cain). Of course, there is also a man missing half his brain and a scared lion as well. Their goal: to find The Mystic Man (played by Richard Dreyfuss) in order to save the world from an evil sorceress named Azkadellia.

The three-part mini-series will air on the Sci-Fi Channel December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. It looks watchable in previews, but whether or not it can keep viewers interest for three days remains to be seen.

Sci-Fi Wizard of Oz Mini-Series

David — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:27:00 +0000

Were you a fan of the Wizard of Oz when you were a child? Well, how would you like your memories of a classic childhood tale messed up and re-imagined into a science fiction series? That is exactly what has been done with the upcoming show “Tin Man” due out this December on the Sci-Fi channel.

It stars the girl from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Zooey Deschanel, as well as some other great stars, including Richard Dreyfuss, Neal McDonough, and Alan Cumming.

Will this be one to watch or something that we will all cringe at? Only time will tell, but my impressions from the trailer sway me to believe this series will be a mixed bag, including some interesting, though strange visuals, and a plot we already know the ending to. I look forward to seeing if they can pull the re-imagining off without making too many people annoyed, frustrated, and just turned-off.