Tag Archives: Television Reviews

Movies in Bed: You, Me, and the Apocalypse

you mePost by Mark T. Locker.

We don’t keep a television in the bedroom, but I love to fall asleep on the couch. Sometimes the voices and music of TV shows is easier to fall asleep to than just about anything. But sometimes you find a show that instead keeps you wide awake and engaged, even if you were half-asleep moments earlier.

You, Me, and the Apocalypse is one of those shows. It’s got so many moving parts and so many interesting characters that you can’t stop watching for fear of missing something.

One day in the near future, scientists discover a comet eight miles wide is headed on a crash course for Earth. By all accounts, extinction will hit the planet in a matter of weeks. We learn in the intro that a number of characters will be in an underground bunker watching the end of the world on a television. What we are watching is how they got there. I couldn’t possibly try and explain all the characters and simultaneous plots without getting very tedious, but the main points are these:

Jamie is a bank manager in Slough, England who discovers that not only is the world ending but that he has a secret twin, he is adopted, and his vanished wife may not be vanished. He and his friend head off to uncover the truth.

Ariel is Jamie’s secret twin, a hacker and all-around bad guy. He’s only out to save his own skin.

Rhonda is a librarian taking the fall for her hacker son’s activities. She is broken out of prison amid the chaos and finds herself on the lam with a white supremacist named Leanne.

Father Jude is a chain-smoking priest (played by Rob Lowe) who has been hired by the Vatican to fulfill the newly-reopened role as Devil’s Advocate, who seeks to confirm miracles. He is joined by the very pious Sister Celine.

There are lots more characters and they are all starting to intertwine. What’s great is that none of it has gotten confusing. It’s just getting more fascinating as you try to figure out what’s going to connect and how it will all lead to the bunker. Great new show that is worth staying awake to watch.

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Movies in Bed: Brain Games!

braingamesPost by Mark T. Locker.

Ever wonder how a flip book, or for that matter, a movie can take still images and create the illusion of movement? Have you seen that cardboard dinosaur that appears to turn its head to follow you? How do those sleight of hand experts make a coin disappear?

These are the sorts of questions tackled by this National Geographic show, available streaming on Netflix (maybe on other streaming hosts as well). I’m not sure if it is for kids or for adults but we all enjoy watching the show together. My son is the one who discovered it and thought, what the heck, let’s give it a try. I was blown away. The first episode we watched was all about focus and how the human brain will ignore a bunch of really wacky things going on in the background while it pays attention to something else. The show does a lot of public performances to show how these brain teasers work on most people. You’d be surprised how many people feel pain when a fake hand is hit with a hammer!

It’s a fun blend of magic and science working together to amaze and inform. Each episode has a different theme, from memory to focus to deception. The science behind it is pretty interesting but what’s great is seeing your own brain get tricked by these illusions. Especially when you know your mind is fooling you but you can’t do anything about it!

This is a fun, kinda silly, informative show that is great to watch with the whole family as pre-bed brain food.

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Movies Television in Bed: The Flash!

The Flash -- Key Art -- Credit: © 2014 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved

Post by Mark T. Locker.

So, I think pretty much every single superhero out there, regardless how marginal and obscure, is getting either a feature-length film or their own television series. To be honest, I’m tired of it all. So when The Flash got his own series to accompany the CW’s Arrow I thought, “Yippee.” But I have to tell you, I’m watching it. My wife and son started in on it and I jumped in a few episodes in. It’s a great show! All the creators behind the series are well seasoned, all of them having been involved in a number of series, from Dawson’s Creek to Arrow to Boston Legal. And it shows. The story lines are as credible as a superhero story line is going to be; the characters are likeable, interesting, and not completely 2-dimensional. There are a few “really??” moments, but so far nothing that would put me off the show.

The premise of the series is that a huge science facility in Center City (aerial shots are of my hometown, Portland Oregon; holla!) called Star Labs was about to start their particle accelerator. Unfortunately, something went haywire and a crazy pulse went out, causing massive destruction. What most people didn’t realize is that it also gave a few people superhuman abilities. Called metahumans, their powers range from the ability to control the weather to the the ability to shapeshift into anyone the metahuman comes in contact with. Oh yeah, there’s also a guy who can run super fast. Star Labs finds Barry, who can run super fast and equip him with cutting-edge technology to allow him to use his speed without destroying his body in the process.

Between battling metahumans, trying to live a normal life on the side, and trying to figure out the relationship between the death of his mother and someone known as Reverse Flash, Barry is a very busy guy. It’s an exciting show but also pretty minimal with the violence so older children should be able to watch most of it without fear. Season one is available streaming and season two is on the air right now. Run over and check it out and dream of being super duper speedy.

 

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Movies in Bed: Muppets!

muppets_the_20112

Post by Mark T. Locker.

When I was a kid, Friday nights was a sacred time. After the glittery disco spectacular that was Solid Gold (I only ever got to see the end credits, but that was enough to captivate me) came the greatest half hour of television. It was time for The Muppet Show. When Scooter pops his head through the door and announces, “Elton John? 15 seconds to curtain, Elton John!” (or whoever the guest of the week was) you knew everything would be fine for the next thirty minutes. The intro still fills me with the childlike glee I felt as a kid. And what better way to end a long day than with Muppets, music, and comedy? The Muppets was the best bedtime viewing imaginable.

Now I am passing on that great experience to my son. Granted, a lot of it is extremely dated—I’m not sure he’s ever seen a variety show outside of the Muppet version—but the humor is still hilarious and Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Beeker and the rest are as popular today as ever. We picked up season 2 from the library and started with Peter Sellers, one of my favorites. Taking his Dr. Strangelove character and bringing it into the world of Muppets is a mash-up I won’t be forgetting.

If you aren’t into the old-fashioned stuff, I hear ABC is currently airing a new version, set in the world of late-night talk shows. I haven’t see it yet but if you have, please let me know how it is! I’m quite happy to watch the old Pigs in Space and Veterinarian’s Hospital. So if you are in the mood for a blast from the past and like to end your days with classic, timeless humor, you can’t do much better than some Muppet Show in bed.

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Movies in Bed: Pee-Wee’s Playhouse

pee_wee_playhouse

Post by Mark T. Locker.

We don’t have a TV in the bedroom. We just have the one, in the front room. But that doesn’t stop us from snuggling up on the couch under a bunch of blankets on Saturday mornings for cartoons. And now, our Saturday ritual is so much better, and nostalgic, thanks to the release of the complete Pee-wee’s Playhouse series on Netflix! Also on Blu-ray if that’s how you roll. I was the perfect age to watch this when I was a kid, if a little bit too old towards the end.

Pee-wee’s Playhouse is a joyful half hour full of talking animals and furniture, refrigerator drama, surprising celebrities, and the occasional morality lesson. Phil Hartman (rest his soul) and Laurence Fishburne were regulars. My son was an instant fan. He is always asking me who my favorite character is. That’s like choosing my favorite Chinese dish! I love most of them. But Terry (Pterry?) I guess is preferable to Chairry or Globey. It’s a wonderful new world that has opened up to my kid and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I had forgotten how utterly weird and silly the show is. I’d also forgotten about the little moral lessons, like when Randy tries to get Pee-wee to smoke. All in all, it’s the goofiest, most harmless show. Except for that intro song. That can hurt after hearing it a few times! 🙂

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