A Sterling Week for New DVD Releases

August 26, 2004Video & DVDRaymond Tomlin

One of VanRamblings’ favourite movies this year (Man on Fire and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind being the two others), the year’s most peculiarly romantic film comes to the small screen this week, and it’s a keeper. Earlier this year the Globe and Mail’s Geoff Pevere raved about The Girl Next Door, while the New York Daily News’ Jami Bernard opened her review with “Once in a very long while, a truly memorable romantic teen comedy comes along. The Girl Next Door is one.” A must rental … soon.

Somewhat less racy (okay, okay … a great deal less racy) than The Girl Next Door, Ella Enchanted is the movie that Roger Ebert calls the best Cinderella themed film of the year (heck, he gave it 3½ stars). Entertainment Weekly movie critic Lisa Schwarzbaum (VanRamblings’ favourite movie reviewer, by the way) wrote, “Director Tommy O’Haver’s adaptation of Gail Carson Levine’s book is a hoot and a giggle of a girl-power fairy tale blended from potions of Monty Python, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and Shrek. Saddled with the burdensome ‘gift’ of mandatory obedience by a loose cannon fairy godmother (Vivica A. Fox), Ella of Frell (Anne Hathaway, the beaming who-ya-gonna-call of princess players) grows up at the frustrated mercy of anybody’s command. Naturally, a wicked stepmother (Joanna Lumley of Absolutely Fabulous) and horrid stepsisters (Brits Lucy Punch and Jennifer Higham) take advantage of her pliancy; naturally, a dreamy prince (Hugh Dancy) sees through to the real Ella. The sharpest jokes in this cheerily pudding-colored-looking production are visual and throwaway: The stepsisters read Damsel Zone and Medieval Teen magazine. The girls admire goblets at the Crockery Barn in the Galleria of Frell. The elves sing and dance like the teenage drama queens in Camp. Princesshood has rarely looked so tra-la-la gay.” Another must-rental this week.

Shaolin Soccer is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with soccer balls, a touch of Sergio Leone and not one microsecond of seriousness. Stephen Chow’s Hong Kong movie, which has smashed box-office records in Asia, is about six down-and-out brothers, all former martial arts monks, who rediscover their high-flying chops when they’re invited to join a soccer team. They’ve never played the game, but it doesn’t take them long to apply their skills to the sport. Zany, giddily-inspired fun. A worthy rental.

Fall TV 2004 Season Première Schedule

August 25, 2004TelevisionRaymond Tomlin

As promised last Wednesday, directly below this week VanRamblings publishes the fall 2004 television season première schedule, commencing later this month, and continuing through the end of September. For the full 2004 season première schedule, through mid-November, click here.
In most cases, clicking on the links below will take you to the show’s network website, where a preview video of the season première is available.
(Check back regularly, throughout the months of August and September, as this item will be updated regularly with new content, revised season première dates — the networks continue to switch première dates — and other salient programme information, as it becomes available.)
Monday, August 30th
Fear Factor … NBC, 8 p.m. Can you believe this series is on NBC, and not FOX? Highlights of the action-packed new season of Fear Factor, hosted by Joe Rogan, will feature family feuds in the form of episodes showcasing siblings, twins, entire families and a multi-part couples competition; all-female and all-Miss USA contestant episodes; a return to Las Vegas; a road trip to New York City; holiday episodes celebrating Hallowe’en and Christmas; and a two-hour season première with a $1 million prize.
Last Comic Standing … NBC, 9:30 p.m. Last Comic Standing 3 will offer more than just an NBC Universal Studios talent deal and Comedy Central special to its winner. Instead, Last Comic 3 will feature over $500,000 in prizes, to be awarded throughout the season.
The Complex: Malibu …FOX, 8 p.m. (2 hours). Move real-life couples into a cliffside apartment building in Southern California’s coastal enclave of the rich and famous, put their construction, interior design and, most importantly, their relationship skills to the test with the chance to win a large cash prize. Home renovation under normal circumstances can be stressful enough to tear a relationship apart, but when couples are forced to keep within a tight budget and faced with strict deadlines and competitive neighbours, the stakes are even higher. Following a special two-hour première tonight (8 p.m.), the series will air in its regular timeslot on Fridays at 8 p.m., commencing later this week.
Tuesday, August 31st
Father of the Pride … NBC, 9 p.m. The networks’ first all-CGI prime-time show looks cute, but given that Roy Horn of Siegried and Roy (animated stars in the series) almost died at in the paws and jaws of a tiger last Christmas, there’s a quease-inducing aspect to this new show.
Scrubs … NBC, 9:30 p.m. Zach Braff hits it big with his Sundance award-winning Garden State, and now he’s back for a fourth season of his hit TV series, this time starring opposite Heather Graham. Lucky guy.
SEPTEMBER
Wednesday, September 1st
Hawaii … NBC, 8 p.m. Sharif Atkins gave up his role on ER for this? The early reviews (and here) for the series offer faint praise, indeed.
Renovate My Family … FOX, 8 p.m. (2 hour preview). Hosted by author Jay McGraw, the son of Dr. Phil McGraw. In the première episode of Renovate My Family, the Biggins family from Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy will pursue their goal of enriching their livelihood by allowing Family Time’s makeover team into their lives. Will Al-Mela, Anthon, Chrishara, Zikea, and little Omar be ready for a lifestyle examination and reformation?
Monday, September 6th
North Shore … FOX, 8 p.m. (returns). A guilty pleasure to be sure.
The Complex: Malibu …FOX, 9 p.m. (2 hours). The regular time slot.
Tuesday, September 7th
Next Great Champ … FOX, 9 p.m. Yet another reality programme, this one a reality-competition boxing show more infamous for going head to head with producer Mark Burnett (Survivor) and Sylvester Stallone, who have their own NBC reality-competition boxing show, called The Contender, scheduled to début in November.
Wednesday, September 8th
That ’70s Show … FOX, 8 p.m. The website Pop Matters seems to really like, I mean really like That ’70s Show. Who are we to dispute their wisdom?
Quintuplets … FOX, 8:30 p.m. Andy Richter’s latest series, on track to be the first show of the new season to be cancelled according to Chris Ryall. Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter slags the series, writing that the series is “limited by material without sufficient punch or panache.”
The Bernie Mac Show … FOX, 9 p.m. Inspired by Bernie Mac’s life, the half-hour comedy will continue to explore Mac’s unique views on parenting. Winner of the prestigious Peabody and Humanitas Awards, an Emmy Award for outstanding writing for a comedy series, two NAACP Image Awards for outstanding comedy series, and honoured by the Television Critics Association for outstanding achievement in a comedy and for individual achievement in a comedy for Mac, all the series needs is more viewers.
Method & Red … FOX, 9:30 p.m. A fish out of water comedy à la The Hughleys, this one’s been a critical favourite from the start. One to watch.
Thursday, September 9th
Joey … NBC, 8 p.m. Only the most hotly anticipated show of the fall season find Joey in Hollywood. This one has can’t miss written all over it.
Apprentice 2 … NBC, 8:30 p.m. (90 min). The Donald’s break-out TV series will première after the highly anticipated kick-off of Joey, the network’s Matt LeBlanc-lead spinoff of Friends. More unwatchable TV.
Medical Investigation … NBC, 10 p.m. The Practice’s Kelly Williams will add heart to this otherwise confusing / confused series. Have a look at the preview and see what you think.
Saturday, September 11th
Cops … FOX, 8 p.m. As journalist, curmudgeon, muckraker, political gadfly, atheist, linguist and conservative dissident H. L. Mencken once wrote, there’s no underestimating the intelligence of the American public. Number one in its time slot each week for 17 years. Who’da thunk?
America’s Most Wanted … FOX, 9 p.m. At least this show helps capture the bad guys. Their evil-doer’s hotline: 1-800-CRIME-TV.
Sunday, September 12th
Steve Harvey’s Big Time … WB, 7 p.m. (double half-hour episode). Award-winning comedian Steve Harvey teams up with Emmy award-winning executive producer Madeleine Smithberg (late of The Daily Show and Late Night with David Letterman), as the show searches for people across the United States who possess unusual hobbies or off-beat talents, and stories that are (hopefully) humorous, heartwarming, engaging and watchable.
Charmed … WB, 8 p.m. Republican and staunch Bush supporter Nick Lachey will join the series this season as Alyssa Milano’s new love interest. The big question: will we hear the 98° boy croon? Only time will tell. Late addition: former Dawson’s Creek co-star Kerr Smith will join the series.
Jack and Bobby … WB, 9 p.m. Taking place mostly in the present day, when it follows brothers Jack and Bobby McCallister (Matt Long and Logan Lerman), one of whom is destined to be elected president in 2040, the much-anticipated series from Dawson’s Creek and Everwood creator Greg Berlanti also stars Christine Lahti (Chicago Hope) as the boys’ mother.
Monday, September 13th
Las Vegas … NBC, 9 p.m. The breakout hit show of the 2003-04 television season, this fast-paced, sexy drama follows the elite Las Vegas surveillance team charged with maintaining the security of one of “Sin City’s” largest resort casinos. Big Ed Deline (James Caan), former CIA, is the head of the surveillance team for the Montecito Resort & Casino. Along with Nikki Cox and Josh Duhamel (in particular) in central roles Las Vegas has proved to be one of television’s most watchable ensemble dramas.
LAX … NBC, 10 p.m. You’ve had a look at the glossy preview, you just love Heather Locklear and Blair Underwood, and the whole idea of security breaches, tearful reunions, illegal immigrants, missing children, runaway animals, drug busts and drunken pilots at the world’s 3rd largest airport … I mean, can you wait for the première til Monday, Sept. 13th at 10 p.m.?
The Benefactor … ABC, 8 p.m. Mark Cuban, the billionaire founder of Broadcast.com (purchased awhile back by Yahoo!) and owner of basketball’s Dallas Mavericks, will give away $1 million to one of 16 lucky contestants on the show, to be aired at 8 p.m. on the East Coast or after Monday Night Football on the West Coast. The supposed criteria for winning the big bucks? Character, intelligence, heart and, maybe, just a little bit of luck. There’s a 6 minute preview available here (you’ll have to give the preview 10 minutes to load, though, as it’s a large file).
Monday Night Football … ABC, various start times across the country. The question going into Season 35 is Will ABC Sack Monday Night Football? Analysts say that ABC is losing about $250 million a year, and $150 million of that is due to the exorbitant $550 million annual fee ABC pays to the National Football League to air the programme. ABC, which is in contract renewal negotiations with the NFL, might be hard-pressed to swallow another gargantuan NFL fee increase — even though the programme has been the network’s top-rated show for the last three seasons.
7th Heaven … WB, 8 p.m. 7th Heaven returns for a record 9th season with a year of transitions. Teenage son Simon (David Gallagher) comes home from college ready to reclaim his place in the family, and the heart of former flame Cecilia (Ashlee Simpson). As for parents Annie and Eric, nothing announces the passage of time like the word grandchildren! After daughter Mary has her baby, will things return to normal? Not likely — because daughter Lucy (Beverley Mitchell) and husband Kevin (George Stults) are about to announce they will be adding another new Camden to the brood.
Everwood … WB, 9 p.m. Lots of cast changes going into season three, with Anne Heche and Scott Wolf joining as series regulars. One of the better shows on TV, this will be one series to watch in the coming season.
Thursday, September 16th
Will and Grace … NBC
Survivor: Vanuatu … CBS
Drew Carey’s Green Screen Show … WB
Friday, September 17th
What I Like About You … WB
Commando Nanny … WB. Delayed indefinitely due to recent surgery for star Gerald McRaney. Will be replaced in the interim with Grounded for Life.
Reba … WB
Grounded for Life … WB
Third Watch … NBC, 9 p.m. Lots of cast changes on this John Wells produced series, with Cara Buono and Josh Stewart joining full-time, while Aidan Quinn and Charles Haid are set for appearances.
Saturday, September 18th
MAD TV … FOX
Monday, September 20th
Still Standing … CBS
Listen Up … CBS
Everybody Loves Raymond … CBS
Two and a Half Men … CBS
CSI: Miami … CBS
One on One … UPN
Half & Half … UPN
Girlfriends … UPN
Second Time Around … UPN
Tuesday, September 21st
My Wife and Kids … ABC
According to Jim … ABC
Rodney … ABC
NYPD Blue … ABC
Law and Order: SVU … NBC
Gilmore Girls … WB
One Tree Hill … WB
Eve … UPN
All of Us … UPN
Wednesday, September 22nd
Lost … ABC, 8 p.m. This television season’s new drama with the biggest buzz, Entertainment Weekly awarded Lost a much sought after “Best New Drama” designation. Zap2It.com’s TV Gal says Lost is her favourite
show of the new television season, while California’s Modesto Bee says the series can’t miss, calling Lost “the best new network drama by far.”
The Bachelor … ABC, 9 p.m. (2 hours). ABC’s sixth instalment of The Bachelor will open with a “Lady’s Choice Ceremony” in which the twenty-five bachelorettes appearing on the programme will get to choose between one of two 40-year-old men to star as the programme’s bachelor.
Veronica Mars … UPN (preview show)
America’s Next Top Model … UPN
Smallville … WB
The Mountain … WB
Law and Order … NBC
CSI: NY … CBS, 10 p.m.
Thursday, September 23rd
Extreme Makeover … ABC, 8 p.m. Going head-to-head with CBS’ number-one ranked CSI programme. Good luck.
Primetime Live … ABC
ER … NBC
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation … CBS
Without a Trace … CBS
Friday, September 24th
8 Simple Rules … ABC, 8 p.m.
Complete Savages … ABC, 8:30 p.m.
Hope and Faith … ABC, 9 p.m.
Less Than Perfect … ABC, 9:30 p.m.
Joan of Arcadia … CBS
JAG … CBS
Dr. Vegas … CBS
Saturday, September 25th
The Amazing Race 6 … CBS
48 Hours Mystery … CBS
Sunday, September 26th
America’s Funniest Home Videos … ABC, 7 p.m.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition … ABC, 8 p.m. Up against critical favourites Cold Case (CBS) and American Dreams (NBC) this reality-based programme which picks cash-strapped families for a seven-day makeover of their homes will struggle / is being sacrificed in this Sunday night time slot.
Clubhouse … CBS (preview)
Crossing Jordan … NBC
Law and Order: Criminal Intent … NBC
American Dreams … NBC
Tuesday, September 28th
NCIS … CBS
Clubhouse … CBS
Judging Amy … CBS
George Lopez … ABC, 8:30 p.m.
Veronica Mars … UPN
Wednesday, September 29th
Wife Swap … ABC, 10 p.m.
Kevin Hill … UPN
The King of Queens … CBS
Center of the Universe … CBS
60 Minutes … CBS

Continue reading Fall TV 2004 Season Première Schedule →

Tech Tuesday: VanRamblings Was Down, But Now We’re Up

August 24, 2004Web & TechRaymond Tomlin

Note: VanRamblings has been down for much of the past 24 hours due to ongoing technical difficulties being experienced by Telus, VanRamblings’ Internet Service Provider. We’re back now, though, so read on …
Internet meltdown predicted for Thursday
A few news services are reporting that a Russian computer expert, Aleksandr Gostev from Kaspersky Labs, is predicting that a large chunk of the Internet will be shut down August 26 (Thursday) by cyber terrorists.
The executive director of Dr. Web antivirus lab, Mikhail Bychinsky, quoted by Lenta.ru web agency said he had not heard of such an attack. “I do not believe in mass internet attacks because the main servers are defended, and Kaspersky Labs has been foretelling doomsday for a long time.”
Who’s In Charge Here — You or Your Mouse?

Rafe Needleman, writing for C|Net, wonders why it is that most computer users fail to avail themselves of the myriad keyboard shortcuts that are available to make computer tasks that much more seamless.

Plus, the fewer buttons you press and the less time you spend moving between keyboard and mouse, the less strain you’re putting on your hands and wrists and the less likely you are to get repetitive stress injury.

Mr. Needleman reminds computer users of Alt+Tab to switch between applications, and Windows+D to minimize all windows. In Word, there’s Ctrl+A to select all text, Ctrl+C to copy, and Ctrl+V to paste, not to mention Home and End to move to the beginning and end of a line, and Ctrl+Home and Ctrl+End to move to the beginning and end of a document.
A Canadian Wi-Fi Horror Story

Greg Gazin, who writes for Canada Online’s Tech News department, suggests that, perhaps, we techie folk in Canada have not yet quite reached that much hoped for Wi-Fi nirvana.

“Yes, Mr. Gazin, our hotel does have Wi-Fi (wireless) High-Speed Internet.” I’m beginning to firmly believe that this statement should rank right up there with: “Your cheque is in the mail.” If your existence depends on getting a decent high-speed connection at some of our finer accommodation providers, you better have a backup Plan B. And if they tell you it’s free I’d be concerned all that much more.

Although Mr. Gazin, like many, has succumbed to wireless addiction (“my laptop, wireless and all, became like Linus and his trusty blanket,” he writes) taking his ‘wireless blanket’ on the road proved to be a whole other story.
From Hogtown to Cowtown and back, Gazin’s Wi-Fi adventures yielded one Seinfeld episode after another. The solution? Tap into Wi-Fi 411, a compendium of Wi-Fi hotspots across the globe, plus listings of Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISP — now there’s a new acronym for you), Wi-Fi HotSpot Service Plans, and more.
Question of the Week

I am considering a hard drive MP3 player such as the Rio Carbon or iPod. I currently use RealPlayer 10 to listen to music on my computer. Do I need to determine where I will be getting my music from prior to purchasing an MP3 player? Do any of these work with RealPlayer? — Submitted by: Don Cubitt, Langley, British Columbia

The player you choose will dictate what music services you can use. Generally, the iPod works with iTunes and the iTunes Music Store, though RealNetworks is challenging that with its Harmony technology. For more, on players and music stores, have a look at the compatibility chart posted at the C|Net Music Centre.

Legends of The Fall: Let The Oscar Race Begin

August 22, 2004CinemaRaymond Tomlin

The summer box office season is now officially over.
With a handful of mediocre movies in release the past couple of weeks — and, overall, a perfectly dreadful summer movie season — all that die-hard movie lovers can do is await the end of Hollywood’s silly season in anticipation of the start of autumn’s rollout of potential Oscar contenders.
If you’re in the mood for dramatized biographies, the coming autumn movie season has a bumper crop, covering a wide range of subjects. Singers Bobby Darin and Ray Charles, Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, sex expert Alfred Kinsey, “Peter Pan’s” author J.M. Barrie, mogul Howard Hughes and world conqueror Alexander the Great have their own biopics. Want to go the other way? There’s also a bumper crop of fantasies.
Jack Mathews, in today’s New York Daily News, provides a full autumn season movie guide, as he writes about films ranging from Reese Witherspoon’s Vanity Fair (opening Sept. 1), surefire Oscar contender Jamie Foxx in Ray, director Oliver Stone’s much anticipated Alexander, right through to the Christmas Day opening of The Phantom of the Opera.
Beyond the mainstream fare, as Elizabeth Weitman writes, there’s a raft of star-driven independent and foreign import films (have a look at The Motorcycle Diaries) that will not only dominate the art-house lineup this fall season, but will likely find favour with the Academy come Oscar time.
For the documentary lover, the late summer and fall promises a flurry of political documentaries, ranging from Born into Brothels, set in Calcutta’s red-light district and featuring a lively group of children whose mothers are prostitutes, to Bush’s Brain, which sets its sights not on the President’s grey matter but on that of Karl Rove’s, Bush’s uber-advisor.
Families can look forward to some awfully big adventures, from Jim Carrey in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, through to Disney’s The Incredibles, Shark Tale from Dreamworks, The Polar Express from Warner Bros., and Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland, from Miramax, among a host of films that will keep children and adults equally entertained.