Tarkaan

I need to say that I voted this show a 10 because there is no measure of comparison to a show of this nature, not even on the Sundance channel. Read on, for my letter to AZN TV executive Scott Wheeler: After giving it a shot, I now TiVO Eugene Lee's Popcorn Zen. His "everyman" Generation Y commentary is sometimes a bit corny, but he balances well with his director interviews. The content of the show is (please forgive the ubiquitous cross-cultural reference) like ordering the combination sushi plate at one of the better restaurants in the area. While I may not enjoy an individual segment, I know that Eugene and the show's creators will round out the hour with features that will make me think, make me sad, make me angry, or make me confused. These are emotions that Hollywood does not often evoke in me, as American film (with some exceptions) has become, over the years, pedantic, formulaic, and predictable. When I watch Popcorn Zen, I don't know what I'm going to see. I give this show very high marks, and I hope it continues to be successful. I am a dedicated viewer.

If the 1980s were the decade for the sitcom, and the 1990s were the decade for Reality Television, then 2000s are the decade of the Animated Series. Proof positive is the unprecedented return of Fox's Emmy Award winning Family Guy.

As popular television continues to focus more and more on The Real (A&E's Intervention), The Surreal (MBC's Fear Factor), and the mind-numbingly mundane (Cribs, The Real World, America's Top Model, Nanny 911, and Extreme -Blank- Makeover Ad Nauseum), the Animated Series offers writers and creators a literal blank canvas upon which to create all the laughter and drama we've come to expect from true television entertainment.

And then there are the poop jokes.

In Season 4, Episode 1 of Family Guy, titled North by North Quahog, Lois, Peter, Chris, Meg, Stewie, and Brian are all back for what promises to be a satisfying season. Those new to the show will be re-introduced to our old friends, but in their tried and true "developed" state, and die-hard fans will not be disappointed by the continuity of the characters and dialogue as the show transitions seamlessly from Season 3 to Season 4.

As Seth himself said on the DVD commentary, in Season 4, the show is "...finally hitting its stride." If you are new to the show, give this a try! If you're a long-time fan, this season will not disappoint.

To call this film 'formula' is truly understating the case. To put it in the Action/Adventure category is almost a joke. Why do 8-figure lottery winners venture out in a Cessna to claim their prize? For a million, you could build a team of gold robots to build you an airport, then charter a jet to come in and fly you out. Shannen Doherty gives yet another unmemorable performance, James Marshall looks bored most of the time. Our supervillains with high-powered rifles and snowmobiles are reminiscent or Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater in Ruthless People. Or am I thinking of Romancing the Stone? These are parodies, caricatures from movies of the past. The moral? When running for your life, *always* go back for your gear. If that means diving through a window while on fire, or getting shot at while pulling a massive, heavy sled, so be it. You must never forget - you must *always* go back for your gear. And we're in North America, right?

Why does the generator put out "...about 220..." volts to run household lights? Don't quit your day jobs, guys.