How I Met Your Mother

Friday, 29 April 2011

How I Met Your Mother

Genre: Comedy

Starring: Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan, Neil Patrick Harris, Cobie Smulders

“HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER is a comedy about Ted (Josh Radnor) and how he fell in love. It all started when Ted's best friend, Marshall (Jason Segel), dropped the bombshell that he was going to propose to his longtime girlfriend, Lily (Alyson Hannigan), a kindergarten teacher. At that moment, Ted realized that he had better get a move on if he, too, hopes to find true love. Helping him in his quest is his friend Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), a confirmed bachelor with endless, sometimes outrageous opinions, a penchant for suits and a foolproof way to meet women. When Ted meets Robin (Cobie Smulders), he's sure it's love at first sight, but destiny has something else in store. The series is narrated through flashbacks from the future.”

How I Met Your Mother revolves around the character Ted Mosby, and his desire to meet the perfect woman. However, the show is different because it is told backwards – Ted is telling the story of how he met his perfect woman to his children, this perfect woman being their mother.

If you liked shows like Friends and Sex in the City, you will most likely enjoy How I Met Your Mother. How I Met Your Mother is a great show simply because it doesn’t take itself too seriously – the characters have great chemistry with one another and will leave audiences with smiles on their faces. The main character, Ted, is light-hearted and presented as an easy going guy with a tendency to be picky with women. Lily and Marshal, a couple in love, have funny quirks which will leave audiences gasping for breath. Robin’s dramatic life and Barney’s constant search for women cause both controversy in the show and an unmatched level of hilarity.

How I Met Your Mother isn’t necessarily a hilarious comedy show, as it incorporates elements of both romantic comedies and dramas through the often complex lives of the main characters – but these conflicts are quickly resolved throughout the episode’s duration. How I Met Your Mother will keep audiences watching due to the large amount of chemistry between the main characters and the desire for the mother to be revealed. 

Photo and description taken from www.cbs.com/primetime/how_i_met_your_mother/

Naruto

Thursday, 28 April 2011

Naruto

Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure

 "In a fantasy world of ninjas and supernatural creatures, a wicked demon fox with enormous power and fury wreaked havoc on the ancient Hidden Leaf Village, causing much destruction and taking countless lives. Finally, the strongest ninja in Hidden Leaf, the Fourth Hokage, managed to defeat the fox by sealing its soul inside a human boy. That boy, Naruto Uzumaki, later came to live in Hidden Leaf Village, but was shunned by almost everyone there because they feared the soul of the evil fox within him. Because of the neglect and oppression he faced, Naruto grew up to be an extremely mischievous and attention-craving trouble maker. But there was at least one person who saw that Naruto had a good side to him too, and that was Iruka-sensei, one of the instructors at the ninja school in Hidden Leaf. 

Naruto believes that becoming a great ninja may be the only way to get the people of the village to accept him and acknowledge the fact that he is a human being worthy of love and attention. Naruto makes it his goal to become Hidden Leaf Village's next Hokage(highest ranking ninja and leader of the village.) However, the path to becoming a skilled ninja is not an easy one. After gaining entrance to the ninja school, Naruto is teamed up with Sasuke, an unfriendly but strong and noble boy from the powerful Uchiha clan, and Sakura, a serious but sometimes flustered girl with a major crush on Sasuke. Together with their calm and capable teacher Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, join many other ninja students from all over the land, some good and some bad, some with wicked ulterior motives, others just wanting to prove themselves strong, in the long and difficult path of becoming a powerful ninja. The competition is fierce and many of the tests that the students have to face put their very lives in danger. But in spite of the pain, hardships, and losses that Naruto and the others face, their determination to become strong helps them learn more about themselves and each other, and prepares them for the many more difficult battles that lie ahead on the road to becoming the strongest ninja!" 

The TV series is based on the Manga Naruto by Kishimoto Masashi and is voiced in both Japanese and English. However most people prefer the the Japanese version with English subtitles (sub)  over the English version (dub) as sentences or phrases are not translated well between languages and there is a great difference in how an actor's voice can bring a character to life as well as the emotion and passion. The Japanese version is definitely better than the English version. As Naruto is a long series consisting of over 200 episodes, the viewer is able to witness personal growth each of the characters experience. Naruto is filled with action and consists of a large number of fighting scenes and at the same time filled with lots of humor to keep the viewer entertained. The viewer may find that some of the characters are cliched however still very entertaining to watch.

Another downfall is the fillers that are placed within the series that are not found within the manga. These fillers go over a long period of time and interrupt the main story line. These fillers can get boring at times. Other than this Naruto is an awesome anime that get betters as it progresses. 

Reference List 

Image: http://www.giantbomb.com/naruto/62-499/

Synopsis: http://www.animeyume.com/naruto/narutosynopsis.html

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_3vaSiqdBw

Archer

Tuesday, 26 April 2011

Archer

If you like your cartoon characters to be sauve, cool, chauvinistic, politically incorrect super spies
then Archer is probably going to tickle your fancy.

Occurring in what appears to be a hybrid time setting (1960s US vs Russia albeit with modern
computer technology and gadgets), this show follows the exploits of ISIS agent Sterling Archer
(voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) and his fellow workmates – but concentrating more greatly on their
personal exploits over each other than their wins against the KGB and close competitor agency
ODIN.

Watch this show with an open mind – if you don’t have a problem with ample swearing, nudity,
gun battles, derogatory banter, sex jokes and stereotypes then you’ll probably love it. The script
seems a little unpolished at times, and don’t expect much of a sensible plot in each episode – I found
you keep putting on the next episode straight away to continue watching the hilarious relationship
developments between the characters.

As Archer himself says when likened to James Bond – “Well, I don’t like to make that comparison,
but yeah, basically.”

Boston Legal

Wednesday, 20 April 2011

Boston Legal

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Starring: William Shatner, James Spader, Candice Bergen 

“Ethically-challenged attorney Alan Shore, formerly of Young, Frutt & Berluti, settles in at a wealthy and powerful firm focusing on civil cases. With some help from his friend and mentor, veteran attorney Denny Crane, Shore quickly makes his mark winning cases no one would take, often using less than honest methods. In doing so, he develops a rival in his colleague Brad Chase, who has been assigned to the office partly to keep an eye on the increasingly eccentric (and possibly senile) Denny Crane. Though his questionable conduct might make him a few enemies along the way, Alan's not one to be underestimated, nor will he let trivial things like honesty or integrity get in the way of winning a case”

Originally a spin-off series of the popular television show The Practice, Boston Legal is one of those television shows that once you watch one episode, you are immediately hooked. The chemistry between the main characters Denny Crane and Alan Shore is one of the most appealing aspects of the series, as their hilarious, even romantic relationship creates a variety of hilarious situations which will leave audiences rolling in their seats. Boston Legal is entertaining because not only does it provide hilarious courtroom situations, with the main character’s witty remarks and comments, but it also provides a deep, often controversial view on a variety of ethical issues. These issues often concern real life, every day people, who are going through situations in which the main characters help resolve. This balance between both drama and comedy creates a thoroughly entertaining show which will leave audiences demanding more. The only downside that can be see to Boston Legal was that it was cancelled after only 5 seasons.

Pictures and Introduction taken from IMDB

Breaking Bad

Sunday, 17 April 2011

Breaking Bad

Genre: Drama

Starring: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte, Bob Odenkirk, Giancarlo Esposito, Jonathan Banks 

"Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. The series is broadcast in the United States and Canada on the cable channel AMC, and is a production of Sony Pictures Television. It premiered on January 20, 2008. To date, three seasons comprising 33 episodes have aired. The series has been renewed for a fourth season, scheduled to premiere summer 2011.
Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series. He turns to a life of crime, producing and selling methamphetamine with his former student, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), with the aim of securing his family's financial future.
Breaking Bad has received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its writing and cinematography as well as for Cranston's and Paul's performances. It has won six Emmy Awards—including three consecutive wins for Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Cranston—in addition to numerous other awards and nominations."

In the first episode of Breaking Bad we meet Walt White, a high school chemistry teacher, who holds down a second job at a car wash to make ends meet. In talking to his brother-in-law, a DEA agent, Walt is amazed at how much money there is to be made in selling drugs. When he learns that he has inoperable lung cancer he teams up with his former high school student Jesse Pinkman, now selling crystal meth, to make as much money for his family as he can before he dies. They set up a mobile meth lab in a Winnebago mobile home and as promised, Walt's attention to detail results in a top notch product. Their first attempt at marketing the stuff doesn't quite go as planned however.

This is a really brilliant show and an amazing pilot. It shows what a normal man is capable of when faced with a life threatening illness and the fact that if he dies his family will not be able to cope with the mounting bills and costs of living. Great acting from the whole cast and a tense and gripping storyline make this series a must watch for fans of the drama genre.

References

www.tvrage.com/Breaking_Bad

www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breaking_Bad

www.youtube.com/watch?v=--z4YzxlT8o



Supernatural

Thursday, 14 April 2011

Supernatural

“Returning for its sixth season, this haunting series follows Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers bound by tragedy and blood to their dangerous, other-worldly mission. This past season, Dean and Sam faced their toughest foe yet: the Devil himself. As the Apocalypse raged on around them, the brothers, aided only by a dwindling band of fellow hunters and rebel angel Castiel, sought a way to stop Lucifer and save the planet. Ultimately, they discovered a way to force Lucifer back into Hell and end the Apocalypse-but at tremendous cost: Sam's life.”

Supernatural is an excellent series for those who enjoy both the horror genre and the drama genre. While the series centres on the hunting of supernatural creatures in dangerous situations, the show is also appealing as both Jared Padalecki (Sam Winchester) and Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester) together provide a large amount of comic relief through the series. The shows constant scenes of danger both leave viewers on the edge of their seat and wanting to come back for more, while also providing a sensitive side – through the conflicted relationship between the two brothers that is explored throughout the series and their constant struggle to deal with their chosen profession. Supernatural aims to both scare the viewer with scenes of ghosts and ghouls and entertain the viewer with both the light-hearted, comedic nature of the brothers and their dramatic lives.

-         Series description and photo taken from http://www.cwtv.com/shows/supernatural

Nikita

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

Nikita

Genre: Drama, Action

Cast: 

Maggie Q, Lyndsy Fonseca, Shane West, Melinda Clarke, Aaron Stanford, Ashton Holmes, Xander Berkeley, Tiffany Hines

The Vampire Diaries

Thursday, 7 April 2011

The Vampire Diaries

Genre: Drama, Horror, Fantasy

Starring :

Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Steven R. McQueen, Sara Canning, Katerina Graham, Candice Accola, Zach Roerig, Kayla Ewell, Michael Trevino

"Following the death of their parents, Elena and Jeremy Gilbert are trying to put the pieces of their broken lives back together. As a new school year begins, Elena's life is completely turned upside down by a handsome and mysterious new student named Stefan Salvatore. Little does she know that he is a centuries-old vampire who is trying to live a peaceful existence.

Stefan's brother Damon, also a vampire, is the polar opposite and lives a life of violence. The only thing the two brother's share is their love for Elena. It will be an epic battle of good vs. evil in the quiet town of Mystic Falls, Virginia and no soul will be safe."

- Taken from website*

The Vampire Diaries is a suspenseful and addictive TV series. It has many unexpected turns and always keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat. However one downfall of this series is that the actors playing high school students look more like college students and the idea of someone over 100 years of age having a relationship with a 17 year old girl does not sit quite right. The Vampire Diaries is packed with a large amount of violent deaths as well as history that you may find difficult to get your head around. I would suggest this TV series to those who enjoy watching the vampire genre, love triangles and the main character struggling to choose between the good guy and the bad guy.

Reference List
*http://tvdramas.about.com/od/vampirediariesthe/p/vampdiariessyn.htm http://www.aceshowbiz.com/tv/vampire_diaries_the/trailer.html
Image: http://www.tvseriesplanet.com/watch-the-vampire-diaries-season-2-episode-6-online/
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPfyZB68Uxc

JABB Post No. 1

Sunday, 3 April 2011

JABB Post No. 1

This is the sketch of the layout we wanted to use for our JABB Reviews blog. The reason we have chosen this layout is because it is simple and easy to navigate around. We are hoping to find a layout that matches our sketch and includes images based on different TV shows, as the purpose of our blog is to review different television shows. We also hope to intergrate our twitter and wikispaces account into this blog through the use of the provided widgets.

The reason we have chosen Telivision reviews as our site topic is because Television is one of the most popular and widely used media forms, and provides a large range of different programs to suit any user tastes. By choosing television we are opening up the potential to create a wide variety of blog posts based around the large amount television genres provided by broadcasters. Each blog post will contain a short synopsis of the chosen television series, a review of the television series and some screenshots from a particular episode.