Showing posts with label rebecca demornay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rebecca demornay. Show all posts
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Friday, June 28, 2019
Favorite Episodes of "LUCIFER" Season One (2016)
Below is a list of my favorite Season One episodes from the Fox (now Netflix) series, "LUCIFER". Based on the Vertigo (D.C. Comics) comic book series and created by Tom Kapinos, the series stars Tom Ellis:
FAVORITE EPISODES OF "LUCIFER" SEASON ONE (2016)
1. (1.09) "A Priest Walks into a Bar" - Lucifer Morningstar (aka the Devil) and LAPD Detective Chloe Decker investigate a drug ring, which a priest believes is led by a local youth counselor. Meanwhile, archangel Amenadiel (and Lucifer's brother) meet with corrupt cop Malcolm Graham to explain why he had pull the latter out of Hell.
2. (1.13) "Take Me Back to Hell" - In the season finale, Lucifer and Chloe must work together to clear the former's name and find the true killer, Malcolm, after Lucifer is framed for murder.
3. (1.03) "The Would-Be Prince of Darkness" - Lucifer and Chloe explore the world of big money sports when a young football quarterback, whom Lucifer had convinced to lose his virginity, is arrested for the murder of the girl with whom he had sex.
4. (1.12) "TeamLucifer" - Lucifer, Chloe and the latter's ex-husband, LAPD Detective Dan Espinoza, investigates the death of a woman whose body with a "Hail Lucifer" message was found lying within a pentagram.
5. (1.07) "Wingman" - Lucifer turns to Amenadiel for help, while trying to find the contents of his stolen container - the wings he had removed from his body, following his arrival in Los Angeles.
Monday, June 24, 2019
Five Favorite Episodes of “JESSICA JONES” Season One (2015)
Below is a list of my favorite episodes from Season One of "JESSICA JONES", the Marvel Netflix adaptation of the Marvel Comics heroine. Created by Melissa Rosenberg, the series stars Kristen Ritter as Jessica Jones.
FIVE FAVORITE EPISODES OF "JESSICA JONES" SEASON ONE (2015)
1. (1.10) "AKA 1,000 Cuts" - A discovery about the past of her former tormentor, the telepathic Kilgrave, has the chance to change the game between the latter and enhanced private detective Jessica Jones.
2. (1.01) "AKA Ladies’ Night" - In this series premiere, Jessica is hired by a couple to find their daughter, an NYU student athlete who has vanished. But the case turns out to be more than a simple missing persons case.
3. (1.06) "AKA You’re a Winner!" - Former lover and enhanced bar owner Luke Cage hires Jessica to help him find someone who may have skipped town, but she fears he’ might learn too much about her past history with his late wife.
4. (1.12) "AKA Take a Bloody Number" - Jessica’s hunt for Kilgrave reunites her with Luke. Her foster sister, radio talk show host Trish Walker receives some unexpected information about NYPD Sergeant Will Simpson and Jessica.
5. (1.03) "AKA It’s Called Whiskey" - Jessica thinks she has found a weapon to use against Kilgrave. After discovering that Luke is an enhanced person like her, Jessica bonds with him. And Kilgrave uses Simpson to go after Trish, who has become involved with Jessica’s case against him.
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
"JESSICA JONES" Season One (2015) Photo Gallery
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
"THE THREE MUSKETEERS" (1993) Review
"THE THREE MUSKETEERS" (1993) Review
Alexandre Dumas' classic 1844 novel, "The Three Musketeers" must have been one of the most adapted stories in film and television history. I do not know exactly how many adaptations have been filmed. But I have seen at least four of them - including Disney Studios' version, released in 1993.
Directed by Stephen Herek, "THE THREE MUSKETEERS" is not a faithful adaptation of Dumas' novel. David Loughery's script utilized some elements of the novel, including most of the characters and d'Artagnan's first meeting with his three friends and fellow musketeers. But in the end, he created his own story. In "THE THREE MUSKETEERS", a young Gascon named d'Artagnan hopes to follow in the footsteps of his late father and join the King of France's Musketeers in 1625 France. Unfortunately for d'Artagnan, several factors stand in his way. One, he makes an enemy out of a local aristocrat named Gerard and his brothers, who believe he has defiled the honor of their sister, and is pursued by them all the way to Paris. Two, upon his arrival in Paris, he discovers that the Musketeers have been disbanded by King Louis XIII's chief minister, the power-hungry Cardinal Richelieu. And three, his encounters with Musketeers Athos, Aramis and Porthos results in him accepting a duel from each man.
Fortunately, d'Artagnan's hostility toward the trio is short-lived and he ends up helping them battle Richelieu's guards, who arrive to arrest Athos, Aramis and Porthos. But after they leave him, d'Artagnan is arrested by more guards and Richelieu's lackey, Captain Rochefort. While in prison, he meets the Cardinal and overhears a conversation between the latter and spy Milady de Winter. She is ordered to deliver a signed treaty to France's primary enemy, the Duke of Buckingham of England. Cardinal Richelieu plans to undermine the King's authority, before assassinating him, taking the throne and Queen Anne as consort. When Athos, Aramis and Porthos rescue d'Artagnan from execution, the four men set out to expose Richelieu as a traitor of France and save King Louis XIII from death.
Fans of Dumas' novel will probably be unhappy with this adaptation, considering that it failed to be a faithful one. I must admit that when I first saw "THE THREE MUSKETEERS", I was surprised and a little disappointed myself. And there were a few aspects of the movie that I disliked. The addition of Gerard and his brothers into the story really annoyed me in the end. Mind you, I found the aristocrat's determination to confront d'Artagnan at the beginning of the movie tolerable. But once d'Artagnan reached Paris, with Gerard still in hot pursuit, the subplot became an annoying running joke that refused to die. And it did not. I like Paul McGann as an actor . . . but not that much.
Even worse, McGann's Gerard seemed to have more screen time than any of the major female characters. Although I never viewed Queen Anne as a "major character", I felt otherwise about Milady de Winter and d'Artagnan's lady love, Constance Bonacieux. I did not mind when Loughery's script transformed Julie Delpy's Constance from the Queen's dressmaker to maid/companion. But I did mind that her role was reduced to a few cameo appearances. The same almost happened to Rebecca De Mornay's portrayal of Milady de Winter. I personally found the reduction of the latter role rather criminal. Milady has always been one of the best villains in literary history. And nearly every actress who has portrayed her, did justice to the role. I can say the same about De Mornay, who was excellent as Milady. Unfortunately, Loughery's script gave her very few opportunities to strut her stuff.
Despite the change in Dumas' story and the reduction in the females' roles, I cannot deny that "THE THREE MUSKETEERS" proved to be a first-rate and entertaining movie. It had romance - well, a little of it. The best romance in the film proved to be the long simmering one between Athos and Milady, whose marriage had earlier ended in failure. And I found the one between d'Artagnan and Constance rather charming, if brief. The movie featured some great action, including a marvelous chase scene in which the Musketeers are being pursued by Rochefort and the Cardinal's men; d'Artagnan's first sword fight, in which he allied himself with the Musketeers; Milady de Winter's capture at Calais; and especially the final fight sequence in which the Musketeers prevent Richelieu's plans for the King's assassination.
Tim Curry made an entertaining, yet splashy Cardinal Richelieu. He came close to being all over the map, yet he still managed to keep his performance controlled. And Michael Wincott's sinister portrayal of Captain Rochefort was superb. Rebecca De Mornay was superb as Milady de Winter, despite the role being reduced. And her Milady has always struck me as the most complex in all of the adaptations. Julie Delpy and Gabrielle Anwar were charming as Constance and Queen Anne. I wish I could say the same about Hugh O'Connor as King Louis XIII, but I must admit that I was not that impressed. He was eighteen years old at the time and probably a little too young and stiff to be portraying the 24 year-old monarch.
But the highlight of "THE THREE MUSKETEERS" proved to be the four actors who portrayed d'Artagnan and his three friends - Athos, Aramis, and Porthos. They were perfect. Chris O'Donnell captured every aspect of d'Artagnan's youthful personality - the earnestness, cockiness, and immaturity. Watching the movie made me realize that he has come a long way in the past nineteen years. And he had great chemistry with the three actors who portrayed the Musketeers. Kiefer Sutherland was perfect as the commanding, yet cynical and disillusioned Athos, who regretted ending his marriage to Milady. The producers of this film certainly picked the right man to portray the smooth-talking ladies' man, Aramis. And whatever one might say about Charlie Sheen, he did a superb job in the role. Oliver Platt was a delight as the brash and extroverted Porthos. Quite frankly, he made a better figure for comic relief than McGann's Gerard. However, the best thing about the four actors' performances was that they all perfectly clicked as a screen team. All for one and one for all.
Yes, "THE THREE MUSKETEERS" was not perfect. What movie is? And it is certainly not the best adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' novel. But I cannot deny that it was entertaining. And I have no regrets in purchasing a DVD copy of this film. If one can keep an open mind over the fact that it was not a close adaptation of the 1844 novel, I think it is possible to find it very enjoyable.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
"THE THREE MUSKETEERS" (1993) Photo Gallery
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