essay-witty Reviews

The Christ Child: A Nativity Story (2019)

Accuracy: excellent; Emotion: perfect

[10/10 · 21 December 2023]

This 17-minute short (available on YouTube) retelling of the Nativity goes for full-on accuracy, following the Gospel accounts rather than more modern interpretations. This includes the characters speaking in Aramaic, the language at the time, including Mary singing in Aramaic a lullaby based on a psalm. There are no translated subtitles because none are needed. The film is about the emotion conveyed by characters and felt by the audience. We don't need to understand the exact words because we always feel and therefore comprehend what is being portrayed. The anxiety and worry for a loved one, the significance of the Child, the gratitude, wonder, and humility as shown by the characters by their expressions, tenderness, and sense of awe. We feel as they feel, we feel more a sense of this is what it must of been like and this, was an amazing event that deserves to be reminisced, honored, and celebrated.

The Six Million Dollar Man: Sharks: Part 2 (1977) Season 5, Episode 2

Steve faces Jaws

[7/10 · 30 January 2022]

I forgot, until watching these episodes, just how much of a pop cultural phenomenon 1975's "Jaws" was and the influence it had in the mid 70's, with every TV show (and a number of copycat movies) having villianous sharks in them, from these 2 episodes to Fonzie jumping the shark in "Happy Days." Even the military in this episode were afraid of them, seemingly forgetting they were armed. At least the production values for these 2 episodes was pretty good.

Doom Patrol: Cult Patrol (2019) Season 1, Episode 4

Should of had John Constantine

[6/10 · 7 September 2021]

This is Constantine's weirdness and it would have been great to have Matt Ryan instead of just a wanna-be character.

Star Trek: Balance of Terror (1966) Season 1, Episode 14

Technically, a great piece of work

[25 February 2021]

Definitely one of my favorite Trek's of all time. I watched it again for the zillioneth time and was enthralled by how well made and tight the episode is. Other reviews have remarked on the great acting and layered story, but other aspects, the music, special effects, and direction are equally well done. The cinematography even seems heightened for this particular episode, with close ups and dramatic shadowing showing exactly how the characters are feeling. The tracking shots in the corridors especially give Kirk, the ultimate starship tactician, an even greater heroic feel. Even though the episode is 55 years old, it still feels fresh, which is a credit to its makers.

The Wild Wild West: The Night of the Headless Woman (1968) Season 3, Episode 17

I'd love to hear about the production of this episode

[7/10 · 22 July 2020]

This episode has guest stars pre-Six Million Dollar Man Richard Anderson and Dawn Wells, borrowed from Gilligan's Island. It has another guest star die while in production. The McGuffin was boll weevils of all things (who thinks of that?!) stashed in mannequins. Incredible.

The Night Before Christmas (1968 TV Movie)

Set in my mind what The Night Before Christmas is

[10/10 · 25 December 2019]

I must first state that I'm biased towards this production. It's fairly close to being my "Rosebud."

I saw this a number of times as a kid growing up and it left a strong impression on me, shaping my images of Santa, reindeer, and Christmas magic as much as any Rankin-Bass special. I remember even an accompanying book, which I relocated years later. I showed this video, first on VHS and then on DVD (it's now on YouTube), to my children every Christmas Eve, feeling it did better justice than I could just reading it. My adult daughter now continues that tradition and it continues to hold a special place in my heart.

The music is great, the colors are wonderful, and the story of how A Visit from St. Nicholas was written, while not true, is still tender and sweet.