Saturday, July 3, 2010

Summer distractions


If you're not the type that enjoys baking in the sun, or just crave a temporary reprieve from the blazing heat... cinemas may provide less than stellar options this year.

What is there to look forward to?

I was stunned to see the record breaking scathing reviews for Avatar the Last Airbender... and other than Inception what else has generated buzz?

Lowest of the low?

I must admit, the eight percent rating has made me curious. How bad can a kid film really be?? Usually even "splat" rotten reviews are not exactly bottom of the barrel, but as I scanned through many of the top critics' full articles I was astonished to find few positive qualities highlighted. With the high ticket prices and overuse of 3D technology, Hollywood has already felt the backlash of over saturating the market with extravagant mediocre material.

Perhaps Norman Jewison was right, television will take the reigns for quality storytelling and original entertainment. With projects such as Foyle's War, Pacific, Game of Thrones, Dexter, True Blood, Borgias, Lost in Austen, Tudors, Mad Men and Mentalist... do audiences really need to leave home?

Poirot X: Murder on the Orient Express starring Eileen Atkins (Gosford Park) and Marie-Josee Croze (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) airs this July 7th!

Marple: Secret of the Chimneys here

Full Poirot: Hallowe'en Party up and ready! Part 1 here.. links on right to other sections