January 1 2008
AMERICANWAY 69
Misc.
FiveThingsWorthSeeing
Here are the topTV, DVD, andmovie offerings thismonth. By JohnRoss
TV Show:
TheComplete JaneAusten
,MasterpieceTheatre
Sounds Kindof Like:
A high-school literature class assignment.
But It’sDifferent Because:
There’s no reading involved. ThisPBS series brings all ofAusten’s novels to life— sixminiseries
airing over the course of fourmonths.
People You’ll Recognize:
Kate Beckinsale, who played a lovelywerewolf-killing vampire in the
Underworld
films, stars in
Emma
. Anthony Head, who played a vampire-killing teacher on
Buffy the Vampire Slayer,
stars in
Persuasion
. And Colin
Firth, who ripped the heart fromRenéeZellweger’s chest (in the romantic sense) in
Bridget Jones’sDiary
, stars in
Pride and
Prejudice
.
Book-Report Alert:
In addition to airing dramatizations of all of Austen’s novels, Masterpiece Theatre is also premiering a
dramatization of her life in the biopic
MissAustenRegrets
.
When to See it:
Airs Sunday evenings, starting January 13.
TV Show:
How to LookGoodNaked
Sounds Something Like:
What Not toWear
But It’sDifferent Because:
Unlike theTLC show that breaks guests’ fashion sensedownand thenbuilds it backup through
thepower of positive shopping, thisLifetime series is entirelyaboutmakingyou feel goodabout the shapeyou’re in—what-
ever thatmay be.
AHostYou’ll Recognize:
CarsonKressleyof
QueerEye for theStraightGuy
infamy leads thewayhere. Butotherwise, there
are nomen allowed. This show is all aboutwomen’s issues.
Five-Day Plan:
Though the show eschews plastic surgery and other dramatic quick fixes, it still promises “both an internal
and external makeover” in just five days. How? Step one: Buy better undergarments.
When to See It:
Premieres January4 on Lifetime.
DVD:
Pioneers of Television
AreYou theKeymaster?AndOtherQuestionsWorthAsking:
WasSigourneyWeaver’sdad thebrainbehind
TheTonight
Show
?DidPatBoone thinkearlyTV shows hada racist bent?WasRegisPhilbinonce theyoung sidekickonaTV talk show?
The answers to all of those andmore are part of this PBS series, which praises the early days of TV.
PeopleYou’ll Recognize:
The series’ producers interviewed nearly 100 former golden-age stars, includingDickVanDyke,
JonathanWinters, BobBarker, TommySmothers, and the lateMervGriffin.
In theGoldenAge, ThereWasNoProgressive Scan:
But today, you’ve got a choice. You can eitherwatch this four-part
series— split intomini-documentaries about the sitcom, thevariety show, the talk show, and thegame show—as it airs on
PBS stations thismonth or getwith the times and see it onDVD. It’s your call, Grandpa.
When to See It:
On the air beginning January2. OnDVD on January29.
DVD:
Shoot ’EmUp
Stars:
MonicaBellucci, CliveOwen, Paul Giamatti
JaneAusten ItAin’t:
The titledoesnot lie. Thismovie is asmuchanode to theactionflickas it is anythingelse. It’s short on
plot (whichhas something todowithCliveOwen trying to saveababy) and longon the clichés of thegenre— stuff blowing
up, people getting shot, and lots ofwisecracking.
Commando
ItAlsoAin’t:
Derivative,
Shoot ’EmUp
isnot. Towit, in theopeningsequence,Owendefeatssomebadguyswho
are after apregnantwoman anddelivers her baby
during
the shoot-out. TheGovernator has never done anything like that.
Best Line:
MonicaBellucci toOwen, “Who are you?” Owen toBellucci, “I’m aBritish nanny, and I’mdangerous.”
When to See It:
TheDVD hits stores on January 1.
Movie:
In theName of theKing: ADungeonSiegeTale
Stars:
JasonStatham, LeeleeSobieski, Ray Liotta, Burt Reynolds,Will Sanderson, Brian J.White
Peter JacksonDidNot Direct:
It sounds like another
Lord of the Rings
sequel and themovie does containmagical forces
andweird creatures, but therearenohobbits here. Instead there is tough-guyJasonStathamas a reluctant hero. Plus, Burt
Reynolds. (!) And the director of this all-out fantasy-actionflick is not NewZealand’s Jackson but Germany’sUweBoll, who
has directed such, ah, interestingfilms as
House of theDead
and
BloodRayne
.
Best Line:
Statham says, “Todaywe lick ourwounds, bury our dead. Tomorrowwegouge evil from its shell.” Evil on the half
shell?Delicious.
When to See It:
January 11.
